Soon after the roosters crowed in the early morning in Zhangjia Village, smoke began to rise from every household. Then, a harsh noise came from the radio, and the announcement of work began on time.

Villagers, wearing threadbare, patched clothing, began to gather in the fields west of the village from their homes. Laughter and banter filled the assembled crowd. Some close friends took the opportunity to discuss matters in private. Elderly women commented on their children and grandchildren, and young wives gathered in groups to whisper. Unmarried girls would avoid men speaking obscene language, drawing laughter from some of the older women.

The men, who were close to each other, gathered in a group, occasionally laughing. Not far away, children were running around.

After the old team leader arranged the tasks and distributed the farm tools, everyone began to slowly disperse and walk towards their assigned places.

Huang Cuilan, absentminded, walked slowly toward the wheat fields with her sister-in-law, Lin Juhua, to weed and pull out weed roots. The village labored collectively, and everyone earned work points. From afar, some could be seen working slowly, while the quicker ones had already begun. Some, however, were still lazily shuffling along, dawdling and dawdling in the background.

Fortunately, it is the slack season now. Apart from clearing weeds in the fields, turning the soil and carrying manure to fertilize the fields for next year's spring plowing, the team leader didn't say much, just urged everyone to stop dawdling.

During the busy farming season, the team leader would shout slogans through a loudspeaker to encourage the villagers. When the weather was good, he would go around and make arrangements, busy all day long. During the two busy seasons every year, his voice was hoarse and bubbles formed at the corners of his mouth.

Huang Cuilan looked at the village entrance from time to time. Although she knew it was still early and estimated that her son would not be back until after noon, she was still worried and concerned.

Lin Juhua quickly approached her, pulling the grass aside and looking around, saying, "Sister-in-law, you're worried about Xizi, right? It's okay, his uncle is here. He must have been with his uncle last night and should be back this afternoon, right after lunch. How about you take the afternoon off and wait at home?"

"That won't do. I didn't work in the fields all day yesterday, so asking for leave again wouldn't make sense. I'm also reluctant to give up these work points. This is much more relaxing than the busy farming season. I'm not worried, I just want to check on it from time to time, haha."

Lin Juhua rolled her eyes at her, thinking she was really stupid. She pulled up the weeds fiercely, muttering, "I just can't understand. Look at the field we just cleared a few days ago, and now we have to clear it again. It's going to freeze soon, what are we clearing? We work on this field every day, but we still don't get much food in a year, and we can't eat our fill."

Look at how slowly those people are working. Are they pulling weeds or just playing? Captain, what a fool! If you assign each family to do their own work, they'll be faster. This way, regardless of speed, the work points are the same, so who would be willing to work hard?

Huang Cuilan was afraid that if she talked too much, people nearby would overhear her and tell her family that they were unhappy with the captain. So she gave her a look. After work, she usually stayed with her brother-in-law, fearing that she would talk too much and offend others. She was carefree and didn't take it to heart, but others might take it to heart.

Ye Zi, who was not far away, looked at them enviously, and slowly moved towards them, weeding along that side.

From a distance, he said to Lin Juhua, "Juhua, have all your guests left? I saw two cars leave yesterday. What did your sister-in-law's family send? Your house seemed very lively yesterday, with quite a few people coming."

"Jiaojiao's mother hasn't left yet and will stay for a few days. Her grandfather has to go on a mission. Yesterday, Xizi went with them to the provincial capital, and my sister-in-law was worried and kept watching the village entrance. I said, 'If you don't come back so soon, her grandmother will definitely take Xizi to visit the provincial capital.' She can drive herself and is not in a hurry, so she will be back in the afternoon." Lin Juhua quietly moved to Ye Zi's side. She was still complaining about no one talking to her, and now she finally had someone to chat with.

Ye Zi's eyes widened. "This old woman is amazing! She can even drive herself! People in this capital are just different. I heard she's so pretty and young, but she didn't look for anyone else. Jiaojiao's grandfather and her mother are here, but they didn't go to the Zhou family to settle the score?"

That bastard from my mother's village was fired, and every household in the village is overjoyed. Those who didn't get along with him say his family just found a spendthrift wife. I'm thinking of going back to check on them in the next couple of days. I wonder if the new team leader will still be so harsh on my family's work points and arbitrarily assign tasks to my father and brother?

"Why are we looking for the Zhou family? They're not the kind of people who bully others by taking advantage of their power. They're just like us ordinary people. They don't look down on us country folks like the city people do. Grandpa Jiaojiao, such a high-ranking official, is so good. He has something to talk about with my father-in-law. Her grandmother also came to help in the kitchen with us.

He is not like those actors in dramas who are arrogant but lack the ability to achieve their goals, and who think they are superior to others. He is very nice to my Xiaowu. The old man is also very happy to see him. He came to the meeting here and said that he would take Xiaowu to visit his old friends. He took Xiaowu away yesterday. Xizi went to the provincial capital with Xiaowu's mother-in-law and came back today. Xiaowu will stay with the old man in the army for a few days. "Lin Juhua is very happy to see other people's envious eyes.

Ye Zi looked around and asked quietly in a low voice, "Will Xiao Wu go straight to the army? Your Xiao Wu is so lucky. Last year, everyone in the village said it was a pity that he didn't join the army. Now he has another chance to join the army, right? With Grandpa Jiaojiao here, no one will bully him in the army. But Juhua, her family hasn't said anything about taking her and her husband back to the capital."

Lin Juhua winked at her to put down the hoe, and squatted down to pull weeds like her, whispering, "Of course not, I came back this time just to celebrate my baby's full moon and return to the capital.

Jiaojiao has her own large courtyard in Beijing, and her household registration is there. I just learned that her mother bought her a house when she was born. My son, Xiaowu, says he's not going to Beijing right now, and he'll wait a few years. He can't bear to leave his hometown, and I don't know what he's thinking. If we were to go back, we'd definitely go back; it's so nice to be in the capital, but we didn't say anything. It's up to them and their spouses; they might have their own ideas.

Xiaowu will not go to the army. If he wanted to go, he would have gone that time long ago. I heard it with my own ears. His grandfather still feels sorry for him. Xiaowu is strong and suitable for that kind of work. Isn’t it just that the old man is here for a meeting? This time the old man took him there to meet his old friends and old subordinates.

This person is truly incomparable. I never imagined that Jiaojiao's mother doted on Jiaojiao so much. You didn't see it, the mother and daughter whispered to each other, how affectionate they were. I always thought her mother didn't really treat her well. "

Ye Zi sighed, "We don't compare ourselves to others. We say everyone is equal, but when I go to the city, the city folks always give us the cold shoulder. Let's not talk about this; it would be bad if someone heard it. Jiaojiao has finally made it through, but why is she so powerful?

Now the old ladies in the village are saying that your family has two tigresses. Your eldest sister married and returned to the city, and now Jiaojiao is marrying into your family. Who dares to offend your family? This time, many people were beaten up. The captain of Zhoujia Village is still in prison. His family has been looking for help everywhere these past two days and dared not come to your house. I guess it’s because Jiaojiao’s grandfather is there.

Lin Juhua chuckled and whispered, "What's so great about that? Jiaojiao is a soft-hearted person. She was annoyed by the scolding. Otherwise, with her temper, she really doesn't know how to think. She doesn't dare to offend our family. We are not unreasonable. My parents-in-law are not that kind of people."

Ye Zi rolled her eyes at her, nudged her with her shoulder, winked at her and said, "Are you guilty of what you said? We all know each other. Your parents-in-law are kind people, but your younger sister-in-law is really soft-hearted? Those old ladies are always muttering that intellectuals are different. No wonder those who use pens can kill people with their mouths and pens, and they won't let you cry out for injustice, but will directly sentence you to death.

They say your eldest sister-in-law is no match for your younger sister-in-law. Those who said Jiaojiao looked sickly and had no energy to work, fortunately her parents' support, otherwise she would have starved to death compared to the young wives in the village, are now contradicting themselves.

It seems your Xiaowu has good judgment. It's impossible for someone like her to stay in the village all the time. She's so good at talking. Everyone says they made a mistake.

Meili hasn't been to work these past two days, did you know? She said this matter has become so serious that she's embarrassed to see you. If she hadn't been quick-witted, she wouldn't have let that damn woman come to your house. But, I see she's really happy inside. After so many years, she's finally got her revenge, and she can finally let out some vent."

Lin Juhua saw that the captain was already walking towards them from afar and quickly replied: "Haha, why should I feel guilty? I will go see Meili after work. It's not her fault, how can I blame her? I have said it, and can I stop her from saying it? I didn't make it up. The captain is here, let's not talk anymore." After that, the two of them quickly separated, each lowered their heads to pull weeds, and it seemed that they had done this together many times before.

Huang Cuilan was amused by this and said that the second son's family was very cunning, gossiping and enjoying the noise without delaying their work points. She couldn't stand it, and she worried about her several times, her heart pounding.

The weather is gradually getting colder, and now the male laborers, except those working to haul manure and apply fertilizer, are all working everywhere. They have no choice but to prepare the fields before the ground freezes. This will allow for planting next spring, produce more food, and increase everyone's food rations.

Old farmers have little to look forward to, except for a good harvest next year, to feed their children and to save enough to buy things and find good wives for their sons and grandsons. If they're unlucky and encounter a drought, all their work is wasted. If they don't work, there's no harvest, so they can only rely on the weather and hope.

There was only one cow and two donkeys in the brigade, both of which were treasures of the entire village, and no one dared to use the cows to plow the fields.

As for farm work? If you do it manually, you'll never be able to use up all your energy. You'll have to work hard, rest, and come back the next day. Who's responsible if the oxen get tired? Haven't you seen that people going in and out of the village to the city use ox carts? Do people in the village have to use ox carts to get a new bride or daughter married off?

Zhang Dad and his second son, Zhang Guoqiang, worked together to pull the iron plow. Every time they finished plowing, they were exhausted, their meals bland. It was also a testament to the Zhangs' honesty; look at those around them, they were just slacking off. They each plowed twice, some stopping mid-work, while the villagers following behind, gathering grass roots, were happy to take their time. Not everyone was calculating. Many families, running low on rations, drank water in the morning before going to work, which was a case of having the will but not the strength.

The second son, Zhang Guoqiang, was a shrew. He knew his father worked hard in the fields. If it were his eldest brother who was accompanying his father today, he would probably go help someone else after finishing his work. Whenever there was heavy work, he would ask to accompany his father so he could watch.

His father didn't think about it. He was working so fast, and many people were slacking off. If they saw him, they would definitely blame him, saying, "You're just showing off." He kept staring at his father, and when he was faster than others, he would let him rest, smoke a pipe, or drink some water, and then he would take over and slowly plow the field.

Father Zhang paused, taking a breath. He looked at the two long lanes of land he had plowed, nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at the side. There wasn't even a lane left. He frowned but said nothing. This was none of his business. He just couldn't stand people ruining the land. Why didn't they think that plowing the land now would yield a good harvest next year? If they procrastinated and waited for a smaller harvest next year, wouldn't everyone suffer the loss? There was only so much to be gained from the land, and if there was less, everyone would get less.

Zhang Guoqiang took out his kettle and poured a bowl of water for his father, taking the opportunity to rest himself. Following his father must have exhausted him. No wonder no one teamed up with his father during the busy farming season. Only his uncle's family had more men, and they would accompany his father and his family to play around. He didn't know if his uncle was secretly cursing his father in his heart.

He sighed. Xiaowu wasn't working at home, but he was different. He was as strong as three men. He wondered how this silly boy would fare in the army with his father. He shouldn't rush into the military just because he was so eager.

Being in the army was a good thing for others, but Xiaowu didn't need to risk his life. He had enough food and clothing, plenty of money, and his mother-in-law supported him. He just needed to find a good job in the city. He also hoped that there would be no trouble in the army. His stubbornness was really worrying him. He didn't have time to give him a few private reminders yesterday.

Zhang Guoqiang looked at his father and couldn't help muttering, "Dad, don't you think Xiaowu will have to join the army there? I don't want another martyr in my family. You must put an end to his idea when you get back."

Father Zhang gave him a look of disdain. Isn't he usually quite clever? "No, he definitely won't join the army. If he wanted to go, he would have gone long ago. He's worried about his young wife raising their son alone. Yesterday, he specifically asked your mother to take care of his son. He said he was worried his mother-in-law and Jiaojiao would fall asleep, and his son wouldn't be able to wake them even if he cried. So he specifically asked your mother to watch his son and wait for him to come back. Do you think this nagging person would join the army?"

Zhang Guoqiang looked at his father with amusement. He didn't believe that his father wasn't worried. "Xiaowu likes children. Look at the kids at home. They like their uncle more than their biological father. He's their son, so he's not afraid of others messing with him. Dad, Xiaowu's personality is up to you. Haha, my mother said so."

"You little brat, are you rebelling? You're saying your dad is too fussy. Your dad is a real man, not like Xiaowu. In my opinion, your mother raised Xiaowu as a girl. By the way, what are your plans for the yard? Listen to Xiaowu. If you go to the county town, there will be no one to live here. How about we build a simple three or five rooms?"

Zhang Guoqiang shook his head. "Like the thatched houses in the village? No, let's just build it like this. Xiaowu and I will do it, it won't cost much. Besides, this is our hometown, not far from the county town. You and mom are here, so you should come back and live here often. If I go back to the county town, I definitely won't have the money to buy a house. I'll feel cramped renting a small room, so I'll come back and live here. There's still vacation time, so the house can't be empty. When we have more children in the future, we'll have more space. We can also grow some coarse grains and vegetables in the backyard. We can't rely on the limited supplies in the city."

Father Zhang nodded. "That's right. In the city, even a single onion costs money. If you plant it, your mother and I will take care of it. We'll have quite a few crops in a year. You should make good arrangements. If your wife hasn't found a job yet, she can help take care of the family."

After work, I'll talk to the team leader about building a yard and finding someone to quarry the stones. Tell him about this ahead of time. Otherwise, everyone in the village will come to help us, and he'll have to rearrange the farm work. We won't be working next week, and it's the off-season, so there's not much work to do. Your mother and your wife still have to prepare meals."

"I've already found the stone cutters. They'll go tomorrow. I've already made arrangements with Third Grandpa. I haven't been working these past two days, so I've already made all the arrangements. Besides the wood I have at home, I've also borrowed the wood for the beams for the two courtyards. I haven't bought it yet. I'm just waiting for Xiaowu and I to go up the mountain and cut some wood and return it to them.

We've just ordered tiles and some other miscellaneous items. "Dad, there's nothing else to order. We're just waiting to lay the foundation tomorrow. The three of us brothers have almost finished the two foundations. We're just waiting to mix the mud and set up the bricks. Once the stones arrive, we can start building the house. I've calculated the time. We'll build both courtyards at once. Tomorrow, mixing the mud and setting up the bricks is hard work. We'll prepare some steamed buns and some meat dishes. There's nothing else to do."

There are four major tiring tasks in rural areas: mixing clay, supporting bricks, and pulling the plow. Mixing clay involves adding "rice feet" (fibrous materials like grass and hemp to increase firmness and prevent them from breaking) to a thick, sticky mud with water. The more you mix, the stickier it becomes, and the more tiring it becomes. Supporting bricks involves pouring the mixed clay into molds, squeezing them into shape, and then letting them dry to form bricks for wall building. These tasks are all backbreaking, and even strong laborers will be skinned!

The Zhang family wanted to build a courtyard just like their old one, but it was a real challenge. The men in the family had to work the mud and prepare the bricks, and building two courtyards would be exhausting.

Father Zhang nodded. "That's all arranged. We'll start building early tomorrow. He'll have his brothers and nephews, and he'll have the bricklayer bring in more people. It'll take at least ten days to half a month to finish." After the ground freezes and snow falls, they'll slowly pack up the furniture inside. Next year, they can move in separately, and the old couple will have accomplished a great feat.

"You should also tell your master to prepare the door and windows. Don't take other people's work yet. There is a lot of carpentry work for Xiaowu's yard alone. We still need to buy wood, and we can do it when there is not enough. Let's do as you say first." After saying this, Father Zhang started pulling the iron plow again.