Chapter 21

Since they were called, they naturally had to go over. Ma Wenjuan had already made room for them. Chu Jiujiu sat on the long bench that she had only seen in TV dramas before, wiggled her butt, and said with a sweet smile, "Ding Zhiqing, Ma Zhiqing, Yu Zhiqing, Li Zhiqing, hello."

Ma Wenjuan touched her ponytail and found her a little amusing. "Hello to you too, Comrade Xiao Chu."

This name was quite fresh. Chu Jiujiu tilted her head and smiled at her even sweeter.

Ding Boyun also laughed, "From now on, you don't have to call me educated youth, just call me brother or sister."

This sentence touched Li Yan's sore spot. Thinking of how Chu Jiujiu called her "Auntie" in the supply and marketing cooperative, she felt unhappy all over. She snorted coldly, supported her chin with her arm, turned her head away, and pretended not to see Chu Jiujiu and Chu Shao.

After a while, Chu Shao brought the dishes back and she became even more unhappy.

It was amazing that two orphans could eat so much oily food, while the four educated youth got together and only ordered two dishes in total, one was stir-fried vegetables and the other was Mapo tofu. Everyone ordered their own staple food. Yu Jianqing and Ma Wenjuan ordered Yangchun noodles, Ding Boyun had the best family background and ordered shredded pork noodles, and she herself gritted her teeth before ordering a serving of shredded pork noodles.

But how much meat can there be on the shredded pork noodles? Look at other people’s pan-fried buns. When you bite into them, there is a big meatball inside!

Chu Shao had never eaten pan-fried dumplings, but although Chu Jiujiu had, she obviously underestimated the affordability of the restaurant at that time.

A pan-fried bun was as big as her palm, and she was full after eating one. Although Chu Shao had a big appetite, he could only eat three or four at most. They also ordered fried potatoes with meat and a bowl of hot and sour soup.

Chu Jiujiu finally understood why these buns were sold individually.

Everyone else was concentrating on eating, but Li Yan was staring at the steamer across the table. It was obvious that she couldn't get any of the food. Most people would share the food, so they should do the same.

Li Yan's eyes almost fell into the basket. At this time, she heard the voices of Chu Jiujiu and Chu Shao discussing.

Chu Jiujiu: "What should I do? I ordered too much. If I had known earlier, I would have asked before buying."

Chu Shao: "It's okay, if you can't finish it, take it away and save it for dinner."

Chu Jiujiu: "Let's have it as breakfast tomorrow. I want to light a fire and cook porridge tonight."

Chu Shao: "Okay, there's no firewood at home. I'll go get some tonight."

At this point, Chu Shao raised his head and said to Ding Boyun, "Ding Zhiqing, we bought a lot of things and put them all in the lumberyard. We'll go back with the carpenter's cart later and won't leave with you."

Ma Wenjuan finished slurping the noodles in her mouth and asked curiously, "What did you buy? Why did you go to the lumber factory?"

Chu Shao replied: "I bought some wood and bamboo."

Chu Jiujiu followed up, "We also hired a carpenter. Chu Shao wants him to make furniture for our house."

Now only families with newly opened accounts can buy logs. Zhang Fengjuan opened an account, but did not go to the lumber factory. Instead, she bought cheaper second-hand furniture, which now makes things convenient for Chu Shao.

Ma Wenjuan was shocked: "Wood is not cheap nowadays, right?"

Ding Boyun nodded. "It depends on the wood. If it's pear or pine, it'll cost dozens of yuan per piece."

Chu Jiujiu immediately answered: "Chu Shao bought a piece of Scots pine. It's very valuable. One piece is more expensive than all other wood and bamboo combined."

"Really?" Ma Wenjuan asked curiously, "How much did you spend on these?"

Chu Shao: "For the raw materials, eighty."

Ma Wenjuan: “So expensive!”

Ding Boyun said: "Chu Shao and Jiujiu have seen the world, so they naturally buy good things. You get what you pay for. The furniture will last a long time, so it's worth spending money on it."

Li Yan poked at the shredded pork in the bowl and said quietly, "That depends on your family's situation. Chu Shao, you just got the money yesterday, and you're squandering it so lavishly today. Be careful that no one will dare to lend you money in the future if you need it."

Chu Shao pulled the corner of his mouth at her and smiled perfunctorily, "It's okay, I only spent 150 yuan today, and I still have some money left."

The educated youths: “…”

Now even Yu Jianqing raised his head and looked at Chu Shao as if he were a fool.

Only when you are in charge of the household do you know how expensive fuel and rice are. Chu Shao has only been in charge for one day, and their family is almost ruined!

Chu Jiujiu held the pan-fried dumplings in both hands. She looked at the stunned educated youth, then at Chu Shao who was calmly picking up the dishes, and finally lowered her head silently.

Whatever grandpa says is right. If he says it cost one hundred and fifty, then it is one hundred and fifty. No matter what, today's one hundred and twenty should be read as one hundred and fifty!

…

Everyone was surprised for a few seconds, but soon they calmed down. After all, it wasn't their own money, so how much they spent was none of their business. After dinner, everyone prepared to go back. Ma Wenjuan asked for a ride, and the others quickly responded. Chu Shao carried oil-paper-wrapped pan-fried buns and stir-fried potatoes with meat and took everyone back to the lumber mill.

The carpenter had already loaded all of Chu Shao's belongings into the car. His brother was driving the car, and he was sitting on the side smoking. When he saw Chu Shao coming, he quickly stood up and waved to them.

After seeing this car, Chu Jiujiu realized that her fantasy of riding in a four-wheeled truck to go home was really a luxury.

This was a donkey cart, and one of the donkeys, after seeing her, pooped out a warm dumpling.

Chu Jiujiu: ...

The educated youth were shocked when they saw the overloaded donkey carts in front of them.

There were thick logs, bamboos stacked higher than a person, brand new pottery jars, heavy grains, and large and small bags of non-staple foods. The packaging was so tight that you couldn't see what was inside. However, after Chu Shao moved Chu Jiujiu into the car, he took out a piece of crispy candy from a small bag for her.

Educated Youth: ...

Now they believed that Chu Shao had really spent one hundred and fifty.

The donkey cart was not big. Besides Chu Shao, there was room for two more people in the front. After Chu Jiujiu was squeezed in at the back, there was no room for anyone else. Ding Boyun looked at the donkey cart in such a dilemma and thought, why not let Ma Wenjuan and Li Yan get on the cart while he and Yu Jianqing walked back? But he was very tired after a whole morning of shopping. Who would want to walk back when there was a car to take him?

Just as he was hesitating, Chu Shao poked his head out from the front and said, "Ding Zhiqing, I need to go to the commune to get farm tools this afternoon. Do you know who to get them from?"

When Ding Boyun heard this, he hurried over and took the opportunity to sit next to Chu Shao. "I know. I often go to the commune to deliver things. I'll take you there later."

Ma Wenjuan saw this and jumped on the donkey cart as well. She said, "I'm going to the commune this afternoon. Let's go together."

Li Yan looked around and found that there was no place for her. She couldn't help but said angrily, "Where should I sit?"

Chu Jiujiu sat on the newly bought cloth and smiled at Li Yan. "There's nothing we can do. This car is so small, and I can't get off. Li Zhiqing, you should get on instead. It's not far to walk back. I see that you're not very strong, Li Zhiqing. You get tired more easily than me. You came to Qingzhu Village to learn about labor, so this won't work. Walking back is a good way to exercise."

Ding Boyun also said in the front: "Yes, Li Yan, you always can't do farm work. It must be because you lack physical strength. Exercise to improve your strength, and it will be easier to work in the future. Jianqing, there is no room on this car. Please, can you and Li Yan accompany each other? I will treat you to a snack when we get back."

Men and women were housed separately for the educated youth, and Ding Boyun often prepared special meals for Yu Jianqing. Yu Jianqing didn't care how he got home, so after hearing this, he nodded calmly, "Don't worry."

Li Yan: "You, you guys..."

The carpenter had been waiting impatiently for a long time. He earned money based on efficiency, not time. Seeing that they had finally reached an agreement, he immediately shouted, "Hold on tight, let's go—"

Bang!

With a whip, the two donkeys began to move forward slowly. After a while, Li Yan could no longer see the donkey cart.

Li Yan stomped her feet in anger. She really couldn't stand staying in this shabby place for another day. It was full of vulgar people. Even a gentleman like Ding Boyun had become bad like them. She wanted to go back to the city, she wanted to go home!

Li Yan walked forward angrily. Yu Jianqing seemed to have gotten used to her troublesome personality and just followed quietly behind her.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon and the sun was at its strongest. Chu Jiujiu used a new cloth to cover her head so that she would not faint from the sun. The temperature of the pan-fried dumplings in her arms never dropped. Chu Jiujiu was really afraid that they would go bad before she could even open the package.

As the fully loaded donkey cart entered the village, it attracted the attention of the entire village. Many people came over to ask what was going on, and Chu Shao answered them all. Soon, word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. By the time it reached the ears of the Zhang family, they knew that Chu Shao had spent all the more than 180 yuan he had just received yesterday, without keeping a penny.

Mrs. Zhang sat in the yard and cursed, "When Juanzi was born, I should have thrown her into the river instead of raising a bunch of debt collectors! Oh, my heart aches for me! One hundred and eighty-two yuan was spent on this ungrateful bastard!"

Zhang Qingshou had just finished his meal. He was different from his elder brother. He had his own ideas, and he was annoyed by Mrs. Zhang who only cared about the eldest brother. Compared with the deceased Zhang Fengjuan, he felt that Mrs. Zhang was more shameful, so he often cooperated with Zhao Shiliu to avoid problems and troubles at home.

He walked into the house with the dirty bowl and placed it next to Zhao Shiliu. He complained, "What's the point of cursing here? If you have the guts, go to Chu Shao and curse him. I was actually scared to the point of peeing my pants by a bastard. I'm such a coward."

Zhao Shiliu dropped the dishes she was washing. "That's right! If she hadn't been so frightened, why would Chu Shao have taken the money? If Big Brother wasn't home, wouldn't the money be ours? Now look what's happened. The cooked duck has flown away."

Zhang Qing was already annoyed by his mother's scolding, and even more annoyed by his wife's scolding. "It's already come to this. What's the point of saying all this? We haven't got anything anyway."

"Pah!" Zhao Shiliu spat, "How much is that little piece of junk worth?"

Zhang Qingshou broke off a twig from the pot brush and said nonchalantly while picking his teeth, "There's still remittances."

Zhao Shiliu widened her eyes, stood up suddenly, and covered Zhang Qingshou's mouth without caring how dirty her hands were. She looked outside and found that Mrs. Zhang was scolding all the time and didn't notice their movements at all. The four little girls, Chun, Xia, Qiu and Dong, were also working outside. Then she turned around and slapped Zhang Qingshou hard.

"You're so stupid! What if someone hears us? We've lost our house now. If you can't even get the money I want, I'll fight you to death!"

Zhang Qingshou also noticed his inappropriateness. He nodded quickly. Seeing that Zhao Shiliu looked better, he lowered his voice and said, "You go and pick it up this month. If I go out, it will be too conspicuous."

Zhao Shiliu rolled his eyes at him and said, "Don't worry, I'll be waiting there five days in advance. I won't miss it."

"No need. It arrives on the 28th of every month. You can catch it if you go on the 29th."

"What if it's not number 28? That would ruin it. Okay, okay, don't worry about it. Just get out of here and don't block my work."

Zhang Qingshou shrugged and left. Meanwhile, Chu Shao and his companions returned to the village. Ding Boyun and Ma Wenjuan took a ride back home and helped them move their belongings downstairs. The carpenters were starting work this afternoon. Chu Shao dusted the dirt off his hands and called Chu Jiujiu over to him, "I'll go to the commune to get the supplies later. You stay home and help the carpenters work."

Then, he took Chu Jiujiu and the two carpenters and told them the required sizes and things.

"Two for the table inside the room, and one for the corner of the large room, this long and this wide," Chu Shao gestured to Chu Jiujiu, "and one for the main room, a square, this long will do."

The carpenter laughed and said, "Kid, just tell me and let your sister play by herself."

Chu Shao: "It doesn't matter. I have too many things I want. If I tell her, she will remember them."

Chu Jiujiu nodded, "Yes, Master, I'll take note of it, you can go and rest."

carpenter:"……"

The carpenter thought Chu Shao was worried about him and was very unhappy. After Chu Shao left and the carpenter started working, he found that Chu Shao was really preparing for a rainy day.

He wanted so many things, so many things! He spoke so quickly, and left immediately, not even giving the carpenter time to remember the two tables in front. Fortunately, there was Chu Jiujiu, who could answer any question he asked immediately.

"Chu Shao said to put it in the corner, and also make a matching chair. The square table needs to be this long, and then make two long benches. Chu Shao said to make a steamer with the leftover materials, but Master, what is a steamer?"

"No, no, listen to me. Chu Shao wants two large winnowing baskets, one small winnowing basket, a steamed bread basket, two pillows, three baskets, one large, medium and small, three pot brushes, two steamers, two fish baskets, two steaming racks, two vegetable covers, four bamboo cups, eight bamboo pots, a fire basket, a rice spoon, a spatula, and a woven colander. As for bamboo fans and chopsticks, we can make as many as we can from scraps."

The carpenter's brother wasn't good at carpentry, but he was an expert at carving bamboo. The two grown men sat on the ground, staring blankly at Chu Jiujiu's lips as she kept opening and closing, rattling off everything Chu Shao wanted. After a while, the carpenter wiped his face and asked, "Kid, are you in school yet?"

Chu Jiujiu shook her head, "No."

The carpenter stood up and patted her shoulder with a vicissitudes of life. "Hurry up and tell your brother to let you go to school. Don't work at home. It's a waste."

The carpenter's brother nodded in agreement.

Chu Jiujiu: “…”

She's not going to school.

Both craftsmen were busy. Large pieces of furniture required strength, while small pieces required dexterity. Now that there was no electric saw, the craftsmen's sweat was as much as the falling sawdust. Chu Jiujiu watched and no longer felt sorry for his family's five dollars.

The bamboo tube cup is the easiest to make. You just need to saw it along the bamboo joints. Chu Jiujiu saw that the bamboo tube cup was made and poured two cups of water for the two masters.

The master feels at ease and works harder.

Chu Shao came back at three o'clock in the afternoon and brought back two farm tools, a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors, which were also bought with Zhang Fengjuan's voucher. He put the farm tools in the utility room, and Chu Shao walked into the house and opened the door of the big cabinet. He took out the remaining fifty or so yuan from his pocket, took a look at it, and then stuffed it into the gap of Chu Jiujiu's coat.

One hundred and eighty yuan is really eye-catching. Chu Shao is very self-aware. At his current level, he can't keep the money at all. It's better to spend it all so that Jiujiu and he can live more comfortably.

Listening to the crackling sound of sawing wood outside, Chu Shao sighed silently again.

Using bamboo to make household items was a helpless move. Since he had no tickets, he could not buy high-quality enamel pots and basins, so he could only use bamboo to make up the number.

After putting the money away, Chu Shao went out again without stopping. He was going to collect firewood.

The family finally had a pot, and Chu Shao also bought twenty boxes of matches, enough to burn until next winter. Chu Jiujiu was eager to try cooking. As soon as Chu Shao brought back the firewood, she immediately scooped a bucket of water and poured it into the big iron pot.

Chu Shao was afraid that she wouldn't be able to do it, so he watched her the whole time.

It turns out that making porridge doesn't require any technical skills. Just stir it occasionally and make sure the bottom of the pot doesn't get burnt.

Watching the sticky bubbles rising from the pot, Chu Jiujiu poured some into a new bowl. Chu Shao tasted it and found it sweet with the fragrance of red dates. It was indeed much better than before.

Chu Shao smiled at her and said, "It tastes good."

Chu Jiujiu was so happy that she finally saw Chu Shao smile. This was more effective than praising her with words. Chu Jiujiu quickly served a whole bowl of food and wanted to give some to the two masters outside. However, the masters knew from their conversation that the two children lived on their own and the food they brought back today would be all the food they had before the next distribution.

The two masters didn't dare to drink it, for fear that they would drink other people's life-saving food. When it was just getting dark, they put down their half-finished work and drove the donkey cart back.

City people don't farm, so busy farming season and slack farming season are the same to them, so they will come over tomorrow, and Chu Shao can't stay at home. He has to go to the fields to harvest rice. Today, seeing that the master has a good character, Chu Shao is relieved to let Chu Jiujiu stay with them.

Having eaten too much at noon, Chu Jiujiu drank half a bowl of whole grain porridge with candied dates in the evening. When it finally got dark, Chu Jiujiu held the things she had prepared long ago and said to Chu Shao, "I'm going."

Chu Shao was sitting on the steps in the yard weaving vegetable covers. He had watched his master do it in the afternoon and had learned about 70% of it. He looked up at Chu Jiujiu and found that the latter was in high spirits.

He put down what he was holding and wondered, "Why do you like their family so much?"

Chu Jiujiu was stunned, and couldn't help turning her legs inwards, "I don't really like it..."

"Since dusk, you've been checking the sky every once in a while. Aren't you just waiting for it to get dark?"

Not to mention that when they went to town today, the only time Chu Jiujiu took the initiative to speak was to pack a portion of pan-fried dumplings for their family.

Chu Jiujiu explained herself: "Because Brother Shengyi is very good to me."

Forgive Chu Shao for being frank, but he didn't see how Han Shengyi was good to Chu Jiujiu.

At first, he didn't let her get close to him, but later he acquiesced to her behavior of coming over. The two of them interacted with each other, and there was no situation where Han Shengyi was wholeheartedly nice to Chu Jiujiu.

As for saving Chu Jiujiu yesterday, Chu Shao also felt that Han Shengyi was simply acting bravely. If it were someone else, he would do the same. Chu Shao was grateful to him, but not overly grateful.

But Chu Shao would not say these words out loud. If he did, Chu Jiujiu would be sad. So, he changed the way he asked, "Third Aunt treats you very well too. Why didn't you think of bringing some food for her as well?"

Chu Jiujiu looked at the ground guiltily: "That's different..."

This is what Chu Shao was confused about. "What's the difference?"

After a long pause, Chu Jiujiu raised her head and said confidently, "Third Aunt isn't as pretty as Brother Shengyi!"

Chu Shao: “…”

The summer night breeze was warm. Amid the cicadas' hoarse cries, Chu Shao slowly lowered his head and continued to weave his vegetable cover.

He said, "Go away."

Don't come back.

Our Chu family can't afford to lose this person.

…

Chu Jiujiu had no idea that Chu Shao had once had the urge to no longer recognize her as his granddaughter. She walked along the path behind the house, came to the cowshed, and knocked on the door very lightly.

There were voices inside, but they stopped instantly after she knocked on the door. After a while, the old wooden door opened a crack.

Han Shengyi stood inside, looking at her quietly.

"What are you doing here?"

In the moonlight, his voice was tinged with coldness, as if he didn't welcome her.

Chu Jiujiu was used to his gentle demeanor. She was stunned for a moment, and her reckless nature was immediately suppressed. She obediently picked up the oil-paper bag and bamboo tube and said, "I'm here to bring you some food. These are the pan-fried buns and stir-fried potatoes with meat that I bought in town. The bamboo tube contains the candied date porridge that I cooked."

Han Shengyi held the door tightly, so Grandma Han and Grandpa Han couldn't see what the people outside looked like. They didn't speak, and Grandpa Han even held his breath. He listened to the conversation between his grandson and Chu Jiujiu with curiosity, and when he heard about fried potatoes with meat, he swallowed.

Grandma Han: “…”

At this time, Han Shengyi spoke again, "Let's talk about it outside."

Chu Jiujiu keenly sensed that he was in a bad mood, so she also held the door, not letting Han Shengyi out. "Put your things in first. I've already made arrangements with Grandma Han. Hurry and take it."

Grandma Han: “…”

When you are sitting in the cowshed, the pot will fall from the sky.

When did she say okay? She doesn't even talk much, okay.

When Han Shengyi lived in the capital, he often went to state-owned restaurants with his parents. He naturally knew how expensive the things Chu Jiujiu sent were. He didn't want to accept them, but this was not the place to refuse. Moreover, Chu Jiujiu was particularly stubborn. Once she made up her mind, she had to get the result she wanted, otherwise she would get angry.

Han Shengyi had no choice but to take the things and hand them to Grandma Han. Han Shengyi opened the door and walked out, then quickly closed it again.

Grandpa Han, who only saw a shadow, said: "..."

Forget it, there is still a long way to go.

…

It was past seven in the evening, and the villagers who had not slept yet gathered in groups of three or four. There were the most people under the big tree at the entrance of the team office, and the sound of laughter kept coming. Han Shengyi took her around to the back of the cowshed. He stood still. It was too dark and there was no moonlight here. Chu Jiujiu could not see his expression clearly.

Chu Jiujiu tugged at the corner of her clothes, feeling somewhat puzzled and baffled. "Are you angry?"