“Both.”

“Are there any restrictions on public water supply?”

"Of course. The amount of water you draw depends on the number of people in your family. For example, if there are four of you, you can draw four dan of water every week, which is enough for you to eat and drink, but there won't be much left over. You even have to use it sparingly for washing your face."

“How much do we need to save?”

"The whole family uses the same water for washing their faces, and they use it from morning to night."

Li Chen and his four companions: ...

Liu Yunxiao and Li Chen exchanged a glance, each understanding the other's thoughts, and asked, "How much does it cost to build a private water cellar?"

"One hundred and eighty."

The two were a little surprised. "This is too high! If we add a little more, it will be enough to build three rooms."

"This money may not be enough to build a house, but it's enough to dig a three-hole cave. Actually, there's no other way. Digging a water cellar is not only troublesome, but also has the potential to collapse. Once it collapses, all the previous efforts will be in vain. That's why the price is so high."

Li Chen thought about it, then said affirmatively, "One hundred and eighty is one hundred and eighty, Brother Ge, please help me find some help, the sooner the better."

"Yes, it's best to start working today." Liu Yunxiao agreed.

The captain and Ge Shui were a little confused. This is one hundred and eighty yuan, not eighteen yuan, let alone one dollar and eighty yuan. Have you thought about it so quickly?

Then the two suddenly realized that the identities of Li Chen and Liu Yunxiao seemed a little unusual.

What kind of family would not take so much money seriously and spend it as they please?

After a long silence, the captain said tentatively, "Let me remind you, a water cellar isn't something you can just dig and it'll be fine. It will leak. As long as it doesn't leak in the first month, even if it leaks later, it won't be anyone's fault, and the money you spent will be wasted."

Li Chen asked, "Captain, can the workers ensure that the water cellar remains intact for the first month, and will definitely leak after a month?"

"They can't do it. If they tamper with it, they won't be able to control when the water leaks." The captain answered without hesitation. "Besides, even if they could do it, they wouldn't dare to do it. If it happens twice, their jobs will be gone. No one will hire them again."

Hearing this, Li Chen laughed immediately, "If that's the case, even if we leak it later, we'll just consider ourselves unlucky."

Now the captain confirmed that their identities were indeed extraordinary.

But there is still a problem. "Water cellars can only be dug in the summer when there is a lot of rain. Now it is not possible."

The smile on Li Chen's face froze instantly, "Why can't we fight now?"

"When we build water cellars, we always cover the pits with a thick layer of red soil. Now the weather is too dry and the water cellars are prone to cracking, which is a waste of effort.

After digging the water cellar, you need to fill it with water to test whether it is solid. In the summer, there is a lot of rain, so the water cellar can be filled quickly. In this season, it may not rain for ten days or half a month. Even if it rains, the water cellar will not be filled. Therefore, it can only be dug in the summer.

"So, until the water cellar is built next summer, there's no way we can use more water?"

The captain pondered and responded, "There is a way, it just costs money."

"How do you say that?"

"There are several private water cellars in the team. The water stored in these cellars can not only meet the needs of the owners, but also has a lot left over. The owners take out the excess water to sell, but the price is a bit high."

"What's the price?"

"A dime a load."

Li Chen calculated in his mind that if he was frugal and bought four loads a week, he would spend less than twenty-one dollars a year. From now to next summer, there was only half a year, and it would only cost a little over ten dollars. This price was still acceptable.

So he said decisively, "Captain, when we get back to the brigade, please help me contact them. I need four loads of water every week."

Li Xu said that he should be able to go back after staying here for three years. If he doesn't build a water cellar, he will need to spend more than 60 yuan on buying water in these three years.

Although it seems to be much more cost-effective, the question is what if changes occur and the return to the city is delayed?

Besides, these four buckets of water can only ensure that they have enough water for daily use. Apart from that, they cannot even meet their needs for bathing and washing clothes.

So if you want to live more comfortably, you must dig a water cellar.

Liu Yunxiao quickly followed up, "Add four more loads today."

The captain said hesitantly, "I can contact you, but you have to solve the problem of getting water first. You don't have a water tank where you live."

"Where's the rice jar?"

“No.”

"Where's the bucket for drawing water?"

"I can lend you my bucket first."

Li Chen was speechless. "Before, you said our place had nothing except a clay pot. I thought you meant we had no pots, pans, or other household items. I didn't expect there wasn't even a rice jar."

"We've almost used up all our team money to renovate your accommodation, and we really don't have money to buy anything else."

"Repairing the residence?"

"That's right," the team leader explained. "We were asked to arrange accommodation for you, but the team didn't have any ready-made accommodations. We had to renovate the abandoned cave dwellings, replace all the doors and windows with new ones, and rebuild the kang and stove. It cost a lot of money."

Li Chen was stunned. "We live in a cave?"

"There's no need to be so surprised. The cave is our house."

"What is the three-hole cave that Brother Ge mentioned just now?"

“It’s the equivalent of three rooms.”

Just now Ge Shui said that the money for digging a water cellar was enough to dig a three-hole cave dwelling. Li Chen really didn't think of the cave dwelling and the house together, and was wondering why he brought up the cave dwelling while he was talking about the house.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!