Chapter 95

Jian Chu's family wants to build two kangs. The only thing that is a bit wasteful of bricks is that they have to build a partition on the first floor. But it's actually not a big deal. They can just build a wall and smooth it a little with lime. They don't have the conditions for putty. If they think it doesn't look good, they can just hang a layer of curtains on the wall. There are still quite a few curtains that they found in the ruins. They can find a simple, light and thin one to hang as a wall cloth. It looks quite unique. Another advantage of their two families living together is that the two pits can share a stove, which means that the firewood of the two families can be burned together, which makes it much more durable. Anyway, they have a partition that doesn't disturb each other, they have privacy, and they can also save money, it's a win-win situation.

If it weren't for the problem of the house layout, there would be no way to merge the three stoves together. Maybe one big stove could supply three kangs, which would save more firewood. But it's okay now. Qin Huai and his family don't have to worry about fuel anyway. They close the door and no one will know whether they are burning wood or charcoal.

Generally, a kang needs a kang pad. If the mattress is too thick and the bedding is too hot, the kang will burn up and some places will be too hot to sit. But the conditions are not there now. Moreover, when the temperature outside is too low, or even the temperature inside the house is below zero, the hot place is the source of warmth. It is impossible to be too hot to lie down. You must know that when the temperature is low to a certain level, you can't even feel the heat when sitting by the fire. So it is good for them to have the current method of keeping warm. At least they don't need to squeeze into the greenhouse with others.

The only bad thing was the power outage, which meant no internet. Without the internet, we would be bored. We couldn't just lie on the kang every day, looking at each other, and we would have talked about all the topics. So, with nothing to do, Jian Chu started looking for materials. He wanted to make poker, so that he could at least kill some time every day.

While Jian Chu was thinking about what to do to kill his boring time, Qin Huai and Mu Nan never stopped at home. The plastic insulation film on the third floor had been put up, and Qin Huai was even thinking of a way to open a pipe and make a separate heating vent. Otherwise, if a brazier was burned inside the insulation film, it would only be local heat and would not be able to supply the entire planting area. If a separate heating vent could be made and directly connected to the second and third floors and connected to the stove on the first floor, there would be no need to worry about the heat source. As long as the fire downstairs was burning, the heat upstairs could be maintained. However, this was a bit complicated and required careful thought.

While Qin Huai was working on the indoor greenhouse, Mu Nan became an idler, because Qin Huai had not yet made up his mind about what to do. Every day, he ran up and down the stairs with a pen and paper, drawing and designing. Those who didn't know him would think that he graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering. Qin Huai had not started work yet, so he had no chance to help out. Every day, he only needed to check the tomatoes and peppers on the third floor to make sure that they were temporarily insulated. Although the temperature was low, they grew a little slower, but at least they were not frozen to death. The rest of the time, he lay on the warm kang, holding a computer, watching variety shows and movies, with hot milk tea and grapefruit tea at hand, snacks piled on the bed, and fruits on the table. He could also pull open the curtains on the side from time to time and look at the sky outside through the small door leading to the backyard.

It's snowing heavily outside and the wind is howling. In contrast, I should be grateful for the life I have now.

Although the kang was warm, the temperature in the house was not high, so even if you were curled up in the quilt, you still had a lot of clothes on. If you wore less, you would still feel cold, and your breath would bring out white steam. Mu Nan hugged a hand warmer, leaned on the quilt that could be used as a cushion and completely wrapped herself, listened to the lively sound from the computer, and felt warm all over, which made people feel a little drowsy. Hibernation, hibernation, probably has the magic of making people fall asleep at any time and never wake up.

Just when he was dozing off, he heard a knock on the door. He was suddenly awakened, quickly unplugged the power cord of the computer, put the computer and the table full of fruits and hot tea into the space, covered the pile of snacks with the small quilt on the bed, then climbed up from the kang, put on his pants and clothes, ran to the door and looked out through the peephole.

Qin Huai came down from upstairs and pushed him into the house: "Go stay in the house, those are soldiers coming, I'll go open the door." The peephole on the first floor could not see outside the iron gate of the yard, because the wall of the yard was a little higher than the gate of the first floor, but when Qin Huai was measuring the size on the second floor just now, he saw the person coming outside.

It was snowing heavily outside. Standing outside, the wind made it impossible to open one's eyes, let alone talk. So the two soldiers followed Qin Huai into the house. During the time they walked back and forth in the yard, Qin Huai's eyes and eyebrows that were exposed outside even had small icicles. Mu Nan quickly took a towel to wipe the snow off Qin Huai's body, and took two more towels to the two soldiers, asking them to wipe it as well.

The two soldiers took it, their voices still trembling with coldness from the cold, but they did not forget to politely say thank you.

Although the temperature in the room was very low, no matter what, there was a heated kang and the fire was always burning in the stove, so it was much warmer than outside. At least when the fire in the stove was kept burning, the temperature in the house could be maintained at around minus ten degrees Celsius, which was at least 20 to 30 degrees different from the temperature outside. So when the two soldiers came in, they couldn't help but breathe out a breath of hot air comfortably. It was too cold. It felt like they were in Hainan one day and felt the coldness of the northeast in winter. It was like this here, and they didn't know how cold the north, which is already very cold, would be at this moment.

After the two of them calmed down for a while, they were able to at least remove the masks a little bit and talk. Mu Nan then said, "Did you bring a kettle? We have boiled some water at home. Can I pour you some?"

The two of them brought a water bottle with them, but that kind of thermos could not withstand the low temperature outside. It was still a little hot when they first went out, but after a while, before they could even take a few sips, it froze into an ice lump. Hearing that there was hot water, they hurriedly undressed while thanking the man and took out the water bottle wrapped inside. But even inside the clothes, Mu Nan was still frozen by the cold temperature when he took the water bottle.

The two soldiers are responsible for patrolling this area, but they don't get out of the car on weekdays. Once the car is turned off, there is no way to start it because it is too cold to start. However, they came knocking on the door today because Qin Huai asked them about buying film two days ago, and said that he could exchange it for tomatoes and peppers. He said that their family had found some of this agricultural film in the ruins before, so they set up a planting area upstairs, and now they have a harvest, so they want to exchange some more and expand the planting area, so that even if they stay indoors and face a shortage of supplies, they can at least grow some food to survive.

If it's just an exchange of points, then the higher-ups might still hesitate. After all, the plantations are not wealthy now, and some of the existing supplies are sent from the central government along with medical supplies. They themselves are short of them, so how can they exchange them with the public? But if it's an exchange of fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, which can still be planted, it will be even more difficult to refuse so straightforwardly.

Not to mention the earthquake, since the extreme heat, fruits and vegetables have been scarce. The membrane is for family use, not for large-scale planting, so a few meters should be enough. So the higher-ups discussed it briefly and agreed. As for how much can be exchanged in the end, it depends on how much they can come up with and how much the higher-ups can squeeze out.

Two soldiers came here today to pick up the goods first and then deliver them later.

One of the two soldiers was someone Mu Nan and the others knew. He was the soldier who was in charge of their migration team with Brother Xu. His name was Qin Bing. Mu Nan had a good impression of him. He was young, always had a smile on his face, and was very friendly when talking to anyone. He was probably a little shy and not the talkative type. Probably because he was eating Mu Nan and the others' sauce along the way, Qin Bing would always pay attention to whether they needed help. For example, if there were some difficult roads or hills that needed to be climbed, Qin Bing would always come to help at the first opportunity. Sometimes, he would come to help lift the trailer without even waiting for Mu Nan to do anything. After helping, he would smile at them and run to the team behind, as if he was afraid that Mu Nan and the others would refuse his help.

There was already ice in the water in the two kettles. Although it hadn't frozen into ice yet, Mu Nan still scalded the two kettles with boiling water to melt the ice inside, and then poured boiling water into the two people: "This is boiling water. Be careful when you drink it. Don't drink it when it's so cold that you can't feel the heat. It will burn you to death."

The two men took the kettle and thanked him. They were responsible for patrolling outside and knew some basic anti-freeze knowledge, but they still wanted to thank others for the kind reminder.

Qin Huai said to Mu Nan, "Go up and take down the tomatoes and peppers. They will take them over first this time, and then bring us the new membrane next time."

Mu Nan said "oh" and turned to go upstairs. Of course, the tomatoes and peppers were not grown by him. The tomatoes and peppers upstairs had been planted and had begun to bear fruit, but they had not grown up yet and were still small. It was not time to pick them. So they had discussed it before and took the stock from the space. They also picked green tomatoes and green peppers. They were the big ones, not the small pointed ones. The quantity to be taken out had also been discussed long ago. They took more than 20 kilograms of tomatoes and 10 kilograms of peppers. After all, tomatoes are heavy and peppers are lighter, so 10 kilograms is already a lot. Adding up to more than 30 kilograms, it is not a lot, but it is not a small amount either. It is normal for a family to be able to take out these, especially in this climate. Any more would be abnormal.

Mu Nan brought the things down in a cloth bag. He had bamboo baskets in his space, but they were not suitable for being outside. Some rags were fine, as long as the things were good.

The two soldiers looked at the red and green tomatoes and the lush green peppers and swallowed instinctively. They had been eating dry rations for too long, and the vegetables were also some dehydrated vegetables. It was only after the water was restored that they could have some mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts to satisfy their hunger. They hadn't eaten tomatoes and green peppers for a long time.

Mu Nan took two more tomatoes and handed them to them: "Thank you for your hard work. This is for you."

The two men quickly waved their hands: "No, we can't accept it. It would be a violation of military discipline if we did." What's more, if they took it, they would have no way to explain it. If people thought they were taking public property, the consequences would be serious.

Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai, and Qin Huai said, "Don't make things difficult for them. Don't do something bad with good intentions."

Mu Nan said "oh" and put the tomato in Qin Huai's hand, then took the kettle they were holding: "I'll go get you some more water."

The two men, who had not even drunk a sip of water, looked at each other in confusion. In the end, they did not waste too long as the car was still waiting outside. After Mu Nan came back with more water for them, they took the booklet signed and registered by Qin Huai and left. This thing had to be sent back directly. Although the quantity was small, it was still a touch of green in this cold season.

The soldier with Qin Bing returned to the air-conditioned car and took out a kettle to drink some water. However, he froze after taking a sip of hot water. Qin Bing turned to look at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

The soldier said, "Drink your water."

Qin Bing suddenly thought of something. He opened the kettle, smelled it, and took a small sip. It was sweet with a refreshing grapefruit flavor. This sip of hot grapefruit tea instantly warmed his heart.

After a while, Mu Nan felt his hands and feet were cold, and the little warmth he had accumulated in the quilt had dissipated. When the person left, he hurriedly took off his coat, got on the kang, and buried himself in the quilt, waiting to warm up.

Qin Huai closed the door, lifted the thick quilt curtain between the kang bed and the main entrance hallway, took off his clothes and got on the kang. He reached out and touched Mu Nan's feet under the quilt. They were icy cold: "You're not wearing socks either."

Mu Nan arched his back in the quilt and kicked out a pair of socks: "I wore them just now, but it was too cold, so I took them off when I came up."

Qin Huai put Mu Nan's socks in the quilt to warm them up, and put them on him when they were warm. Mu Nan huddled in the quilt, looked at Qin Huai and said, "I just filled their pot with grapefruit tea."

Qin Huai smiled and said, "I guessed it." Mu Nan could guess what the other party was planning just by rolling his eyes. How could he not know such a deliberate action?

Mu Nan said: "I just feel that they are working so hard."

Qin Huai rubbed Mu Nan's hair: "I know."

Mu Nan: "So I want to give them some sweetness, maybe the bitterness will become less bitter."

Qin Huai lowered his head and kissed Mu Nan's forehead: "I know."

The thermal insulation film was delivered three days later. There were 25 meters of it in total, which should be enough for a living room on the second floor. The noise when it was carried in was quite loud, and the neighbors on both sides probably saw it. However, Jian Chu and his friends lived nearby because a door was opened in the garage, so they could just walk through. So they came over curiously to see what they bought. When they learned that they bought the film, they were shocked: "You got this stuff too?"

Mu Nan said, "It's not easy to get. There is a shortage of them. I have wasted a lot of effort. Don't worry. My brother said he has already informed them. If he can squeeze out some, he will let you know then."

Jian Chu nodded and said, "Okay, but there's no rush. The kang we made is very big, and we also made a special table for quilts and clothes. I cleaned it up and put the soil pots I dug earlier. I'm soaking the seeds these two days. Anyway, the soil has woken up and the temperature should be okay. I just don't know if they can be planted."

Mu Nan looked at him and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid of bugs if you put it on the bed?"

Jian Chu smiled and said, "Are you afraid of bugs? I'm not afraid. Caterpillars can crawl. I can kill them with my bare hands. Such small things won't bite you. Besides, they are placed on the table, not where you sleep. They are a distance away. What are you afraid of?"

After Jian Chu finished speaking, he whispered to Mu Nan, "But Yu Zibai is afraid of insects. Since I put the earthen basin on the platform, he has never slept there again."

Looking at Yu Zibai who was helping Qin Huai build the film, Mu Nan said, "Then you are really making things difficult for him."

Jian Chu shrugged innocently: "It's just to make a living, so I try my best to overcome the small difficulties."

Mu Nan said, "My brother said that he will treat you to a meal when Wu Zheng can walk again. We still have to keep our promises. I think the weather is getting colder and colder. It might be difficult to go out. We might as well eat early. When we are sweeping the snow tomorrow, ask Song Jia if he minds eating at his house. We will bring the ingredients and the cooking utensils. This way, Wu Zheng won't have to come over. Although it's only a few steps away, the temperature outside is too unfriendly to people with frostbite."

Jian Chu sighed, "This temperature is not friendly to anyone who can breathe. Oh no, even to those who can't breathe. You don't know, I have to cover my head when I sleep on a kang, otherwise the cold air above my head will make my nose hurt. I thought summer was hard enough, but I didn't expect that it was still an easy mode. Now it's hard mode."

Mu Nan sighed, "We have to endure it even if it's hard. It's really good that we can stay at home comfortably in this icy and snowy weather."

Seeing that Qin Huai and Yu Zibai were not getting along well, Mu Nan was ready to go over to help, but was stopped by Jian Chu: "Let them be busy, take their time, it's also something to do. You don't know, we have been staring at each other at home these days, and we are almost tired of each other."

Mu Nan looked at Jian Chu and asked in a low voice: "Did you have a fight?"

Jian Chu waved his hand: "No, he's just too idle. He's about to have mushrooms growing on his head. It's hard to find something to do, so let him be busy. He can't wait to have something to do."

Mu Nan couldn't help laughing. This was not the first time he was locked up in the room, but it was really suffocating this time, especially since the only place he could move around was the kang. There was no electricity, so he couldn't do anything. Fortunately, he had a lot of batteries, so at least there was no problem with the supply of mobile phones, computers, and lights. When the batteries ran out, he could use a small generator upstairs to slowly charge them, so time passed quickly. But for people who didn't have these things, it was really hard. Even sweeping snow outside in the cold wind every day was almost like a recreational activity.

Mu Nan asked Jian Chu to wait while he went downstairs to make two cups of milk tea. Holding a cup of milk tea, he watched the other two busying around. Qin Huai glanced at Mu Nan and just smiled. Yu Zibai was so focused on his work that he didn't notice the people watching the show for a while. He couldn't help but smile and said, "You guys are so comfortable here." He drank milk tea and watched others busying around.

Jian Chu gestured to Yu Zibai: "Come on!"

The shelf in the house had been set up long ago. If Yu Zibai and the others had not come to help, it would have been easier for Qin Huai and Mu Nan, because they could have just taken out the ladder and used it. But it was a thoughtful gesture that they came to help, and although it was a bit difficult, at least it was put down smoothly. Because the entire membrane is fully covered, the 25 meters is just right to cover the entire living room. It was a little too much, but the extra few meters would not be enough to build a new greenhouse, so there was no cutting. Just roll it up and put it on the ground, and cut the extra ones if they needed them later.

It's busy in the afternoon, so of course they have to treat people to a meal. However, at this time, eating is a big deal. Even though they have helped each other through difficulties, their relationship is no longer that of ordinary neighbors who just nodded and greeted each other. But Jian Chu and Yu Zibai are not so confused as to take it for granted. After helping, they will go home directly. Food is scarce enough, so how can they eat at other people's homes? They don't know how long this winter will last, and they don't know how long they have to stay in the house. Now they eat as little as possible at home. Anyway, if they don't move much, they don't need to consume much food, so as long as they don't starve to death, it's fine.

But Mu Nan still asked them to stay: "Call Xu Ming over as well. We can't eat secretly without telling him. We don't have any good food at home, but we do have a bowl of shredded bean with bacon. I made a lot of shredded bean before, so I'll give it to you to try. There's also bacon I got from the exchange point, but I don't know how it tastes. It seems to be smoked meat, which I haven't eaten yet. Let's heat up some sticky bean buns. It's hard to eat with the conditions we have now, but it's enough to be full."

Thinking about eating shredded bean, Jian Chu and the others agreed. They also had mung beans at home, so they would ask Mu Nan to teach him how to cook them.

When Xu Ming came over wrapped in a thick coat, the bean shreds had already been cooked, but they still needed to be simmered after cooking to absorb the soup and make it more sticky. The stickier the better. The sticky bean buns were also steamed and heated on the boiler on the stove. Anyway, there was always water boiling in the big iron pot, so the sticky bean buns were placed on it and would be hot whenever they were needed.

Xu Ming came over and was stuffed with a large bowl of bacon and bean shreds. He first held the bowl and drank a mouthful of hot soup, then asked, "What did I miss again?"

Jian Chu said, "We missed the filming. We helped them put up the greenhouse film on the second floor this afternoon. We don't know if the greenhouse can be used for planting. Let them try it first. We will follow the experience of our predecessors in the future. If it works, then maybe we can have a stable life. We can eat what we grow and exchange it for some staple food. It would be great if it could be like that."

The few people did not go to the kang to eat, as it was a bit troublesome to take off their clothes, so they ate around the stove. The stove was designed when it was built, and there was a space near the fire where a small round table could be placed. If they did not want to eat in bed, they could eat around the stove, which was also warm.

Xu Ming asked: "How do we get fertilizer if we grow it at home?"

Jian Chu also looked at Mu Nan curiously: "What are you going to use? You don't want to make your own fertilizer?" His family currently only has a few small earthen pots, which are not large enough, so it seems that they don't need fertilizer too much. If they want to expand the scale in the future, they should also need it.

Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai after hearing this. Qin Huai said, "Yes, it's fine. A small vegetable garden at home doesn't need much fertilizer. A bag can be used for a long time. Although many places have become ruins after the earthquake, it doesn't mean that we have returned to the era of wearing animal skins and hunting by grinding stones overnight. We can still have what we need. In the next period of time, the biggest reconstruction project will be farmland. The country will focus on grain planting, so fertilizers and other things, although there may not be a lot, will definitely be available."

Xu Ming said: "Speaking of hunting, what do you think?"

Mu Nan looked at Xu Ming: "What do you think? It's so cold outside, no animals should be able to come out, right?"

Xu Ming said, "The building behind us is home to more than a dozen people, including sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and in-laws. They dragged a wild boar back home the day before yesterday."

Jian Chu and Mu Nan were instantly shocked: "!"