Chapter 172: Visiting the Coal Factory

Lu Miao felt a little guilty.

I'm actually not that short of money, and I can afford many things.

However, Fu Jingyou is too family-oriented.

Or rather, he cared too much about her.

While Lu Miao was sighing, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

"good."

Fu Jingyou smiled hoarsely and patted her back gently to comfort her.

"I'll take a couple of days off. Tomorrow I'll go to the county and buy everything I need. The day after tomorrow I'll go to town to visit my second brother."

In fact, when I come back from the county, I can go to the town to find Brother He.

I’m just afraid that I’ll have too much in my hands and then only give a little to others. That’s not acceptable and I can’t stand it.

Lu Miaoyi tapped his shoulder lightly, "Yeah."

Fu Jingyou hugged her and asked again:

"Have you used up all the tickets? Is there anything else you want? I'll buy them all."

"Is there any place selling nuts in the county? If so, buy some. Eating more nuts is good for your health."

"And paper and ink... My pen is no longer writing."

"Okay, buy them all."

Fu Jingyou acted quickly and bought everything he needed the day before.

Fu Jingyou got up early the next day and went to the town early, carrying the nuts, red dates and a pound of brown sugar that Lu Miao had packed the night before.

There are no coal mines in Xi County.

The carbon used in winter is usually either shipped from the neighboring Jing City or from large ships in the north.

People in small places don't have that much demand for coal.

It is generally used in various factories, such as steel mills, brick factories, etc.

The coal plant in Nanhu Town is close to the river and is located in a poplar forest that protects water and soil and strengthens the embankment.

Following his wife's advice, Fu Jingyou went to the farmers' market first.

The line at the butcher shop starts forming at three or four in the morning, and if you don't arrive at the right time, you will definitely not be able to get some meat.

Fu Jingyou grabbed two large bones, put them in a backpack and carried them on his back. After walking out of the town streets, he walked along the river for nearly an hour before reaching his destination.

The courtyard built with red bricks does not look tall and majestic, but it contains a coal storage work area and a family living area, and the entire courtyard occupies a large area.

Fu Jingyou told the old man guarding the door the name of He's second brother He Fengcang, and was successfully directed to the family area.

Working in a coal mine is a stable job, but the working environment is no better than other factories. Everywhere you look is either pitch black or gray.

Fu Jingyou meandered around, passed through several large, vermilion-colored heaps of waste coal slag, and gradually walked into an independent courtyard in the family quarters where clotheslines were pulled out and jackets were hung.

The family quarters of the coal plant is a two-story building.

At first glance, the red brick walls are also dark and gray.

There are a total of sixteen doors, which should be where sixteen families live.

The gatekeeper said that He Fengcang's family was the sixth household, so Fu Jingyou carefully identified them.

There were numbers roughly scratched on the doors with coal slag, and the house marked "6" was the last one on the first floor.

Fu Jingyou approached the last house, listened to the sound first, and then knocked on the door.

“Knock knock knock—”

There was the sound of a woman coaxing a child from inside the door.

As soon as the door was knocked, the only sound inside was the noisy "wah-la-la" of children.

"Who is it?"

A female voice with full energy came.

Fu Jingyou recognized the voice as that of his second sister-in-law Tian Guihua.

"Sister-in-law, it's me, Xiaoliu."

It was quiet inside again, and after a while, someone moved towards the door.

"Oh, Xiaoliu is here."

Tian Guihua opened the door holding the child in one hand.

After glancing up and down at Fu Jingyou, Tian Guihua took a step to the side, invited Fu Jingyou into the room, and then opened the door as wide as possible.

"Please sit down first. I'll pour you a glass of water."

"Thank you, sister-in-law... Sister-in-law, don't be busy. I came here today just to talk to my second brother about something."

The two-story building looks decent from the outside, but once you enter you realize how small the space is.

It was a small room that looked about the same size as the room where he and Lu Miao slept at home.

Although it was tidy, the floor was dark and there were two beds, one large and one small, placed against the inner wall in the small space.

There are large water tanks and a boiler for cooking near the window at the door.

Filled with all sorts of things needed for daily life.

Dark, crowded, and visually giving people a sense of dirtiness...

Fu Jingyou was a little unable to turn around, so he took a quick look, explained his purpose, and then put down the basket on his back.

Fu Jingyou carried a basket and put things on the chopping board placed above the water tank.

Tian Guihua poured him some water, and her son He Minjie just put it on the ground and stood there.

The two-year-old boy can already walk slowly, and was previously held in his mother's arms and coaxed, but now he is left aside and ignored.

The little guy looked confused, his face covered with snot and tears. He went over and hugged Tian Guihua's legs, his cheeks red from crying.

"Oh, wait a minute, you are such a grandpa, you can't let go at all."

Tian Guihua's voice was loud, but her words were helpless.

Fu Jingyou was afraid that the little guy would get burned if he fumbled around, so he quickly opened the bag of nuts and red dates, grabbed a handful, and leaned over to comfort him:

"Xiao Jie, come here, come to uncle."

He Minjie was sobbing but not shy.

He stumbled and actually walked towards Fu Jingyou with his arms outstretched.

Fu Jingyou hugged He Minjie in his arms, feeding him and playing with him at the same time.

In the past, he was a hard-working man, and he had no connections with anyone except He Hongjin and his wife in the team.

He suddenly became so proactive and friendly that Tian Guihua was stunned and stared at him for several times.

Tian Guihua was puzzled, how could this person have changed so much?

To be honest, it was a rare occasion for Fu Jingyou to come to my house, and he had something to say as soon as he opened his mouth.

Tian Guihua knew that he must have come to ask for help for something.

What else can be asked for here?

Isn’t it just borrowing money?

Our house is surrounded by mountains, and I could trip over firewood even with my eyes closed. He can't be here to ask for coal.

Tian Guihua's face looked a little bad at first, but when she saw the things Fu Jingyou took out one after another, she became unsure again.

Big bones, brown sugar, and nuts...

A big bag of all kinds of things will cost three or four dollars.

He doesn't look like he's here to borrow money.

Could it be that she misunderstood?

Tian Guihua adjusted her state and placed the enamel pot filled with hot water aside.

There was no proper chair in the room, so she pulled over a small stool and placed it beside Fu Jingyou's legs. She nodded at her son He Minjie's head and said with a smile:

"Look at you, your uncle still loves you."

After saying that, Tian Guihua smiled at Fu Jingyou:

"Sit down first, little brother Xiaoliu. You can hold this little ancestor for a while. I'll go call your second brother back."

Fu Jingyou nodded and said, "Oh, please help me, sister-in-law."

"Look at what you said, it's not troublesome!"

Tian Guihua left with a smile.