Because of the road construction, many families in Huitouling Village had people working on the construction site. Since they were working for the government, the lunch was plentiful and oily. Most importantly, they were told that they would be paid once a month. On the day of the payment, they would carry large baskets full of copper coins to the construction site to distribute the money. Who wouldn't want to do something so easy?

After the construction site was shut down, many families returned home with one or two strings of copper coins. With money in hand, they naturally wanted to prepare a more lavish New Year. So, as the New Year approached, the air in the village was filled with the tempting aroma of food day and night.

Around dusk, Zhou Erzhu and his wife returned from the city with their child. After entering the village, Gouwazi saw his friend and ran over happily, excitedly telling him about his experiences in the city.

Zhou Erzhu and his wife, carrying loads of things, walked home talking as they went.

Looking at the road that was still under construction not far away, Zhou Ersao said, "The person in charge said they'll start working on it after the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. Shall we go?"

Zhou Erzhu said without hesitation, "Let's go! Why not go if there's money to be made? Let's both go. I heard from the foreman that they'll be paving this road with bluestone slabs later. When that happens, this road will be so much easier to walk on."

Zhou Ersao nodded, then, as if remembering something, said, "Dad, do you think we could set up a tea stall by the roadside? It's still more than ten miles from here to Luzhou City. Whether people are going out of the city or coming in, there will always be thirsty people here."

Zhou Erzhu was delighted and said, "Sure, why not? We can build a teahouse here. I'll take two jin of meat to the village head's house later and ask if that patch of wasteland by the roadside belongs to our village. If it does, we'll buy it while we have the money."

Second Sister-in-law Zhou nodded repeatedly and said, "Go to the village head's house and ask him quickly, this is a big deal."

The village head of Huitouling Village was also surnamed Zhou, and he was related to Zhou Erzhu. In fact, the village head was Zhou Erzhu's uncle, who was still within five degrees of kinship. When he saw Zhou Erzhu carrying a knife of meat, the village head knew that he had something to ask of him. He didn't ask what it was, but had his old wife take the meat from him and then asked, "Erzhu, you and Gouwazi's mother must have made a lot of money this winter, right?"

Zhou Erzhu smiled honestly and said, "Uncle, I only earned two strings of cash. It's not a lot. There are few people in my family. In our village, families with more able-bodied men earn more this winter."

The village head nodded and said, "I heard from the people in the prefecture that work will start on the eighth day of the first lunar month. Are you still going to continue working?"

Zhou Erzhu nodded and said, "Of course we'll keep going, Uncle. I've come here today because there's something important I want to ask you."

The village head nodded to Zhou Erzhu, who then said, "I see a patch of wasteland along the newly built road. Uncle, does that wasteland belong to our village?"

The village head was taken aback and asked, "Why are you asking this?"

Zhou Erzhu didn't hide anything, saying, "I was thinking that once the road is repaired, there will be more pedestrians on the road. Then I can build a shed by the roadside and sell some tea and food to earn a few copper coins to supplement my family's income, right?"

The village head was surprised that Zhou Erzhu could think of these things. Thinking of the important person in the city who had asked him to discuss the matter, he couldn't help but look Zhou Erzhu up and down.

Zhou Erzhu was bewildered by the village head's scrutiny, but he stubbornly remained silent. After a long pause, the village head said, "Erzhu, don't rush to build the teahouse. I have something to discuss with Gouwazi's mother. If you're willing, I'll take you both to the city to meet a distinguished person after the New Year. If you're not willing, I'll sell you that piece of wasteland on the edge of the village. You can build the teahouse and do some small business to make money."

Huiling Village is located at the foot of the mountain. A nearby mountain is covered with bamboo. Many villagers make bamboo baskets and other similar items, which they then sell in the city's general stores, earning them a few coins.

Around the time of the Double Ninth Festival, a distinguished person from the city came to the village headman with his entourage, wanting to build a bamboo paper workshop in the village and have the villagers work together. The village headman was literate and the only scholar in the village, so he naturally knew how important bamboo paper was.

After the nobleman spoke, the village head initially did not believe it. The craft of making bamboo paper had been passed down through generations, so how could it be done with the help of the villagers, as the nobleman claimed?

The benefactor said that the best bamboo paper is made from bamboo harvested around the Dragon Boat Festival, but we can try using some bamboo now. After all, making bamboo paper requires many steps and takes many days.

The important person arrived quietly, without the village head making a fuss. His men cut some bamboo from the mountain and brought it back to the city.

The village head didn't consider this a very important matter. For Huitouling, the most important thing was naturally to build a road. At first, the sound of cannons boomed every day, and the towering rocks collapsed to the ground instantly, blasted into small pieces. What could be more shocking than this?

Later, people were recruited to work all over the mountains and fields. The lunch at the construction site every day was incredibly delicious, with the smell of steamed buns and stewed meat carried by the wind to the village. At this time, the village head regretted that he was too old to work on the construction site like the young men in the village, earning copper coins and eating big steamed buns and big pieces of meat.

After the nobleman from the city left with the bamboo cut down from the mountain, no news came back. Gradually, the village head put the matter aside. In this era, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were things reserved for scholars and were precious items. How could they be made so easily?

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