At first glance, you can see that the doors and windows of her little house have been installed. The bright glass windows were specially obtained by her by asking the brigade leader for help. These few pieces of glass cost her quite a bit of money.

Shen Dahe had originally planned to come back later to settle his wages with Chen Shuning, but he didn't expect that Chen Shuning would come back before they had even finished cleaning up, so he didn't have to make another trip.

Seeing Chen Shuning struggling to carry two iron pots, Shen Dahe hurriedly put down his tools and stepped forward to help. He took the iron pots from Chen Shuning's hands, beckoned to his third brother, and instructed him, "Dahai, go and put these pots on properly. Make sure there's no smoke coming out."

"Don't worry, brother, I'll make sure it's all done well." With that, Shen Dahai took the two iron pots and went into Chen Shuning's hut.

Chen Shuning laboriously moved the bamboo basket that Old Yang had helped bring to Shen Dahe's feet, and said with a smile, "Brother Shen, Lingling and I have prepared some things for these construction workers. We'll have to trouble you to distribute them to everyone later."

Then, turning to the workers who were tidying up their tools, he said, "These past few days have really been tough for you uncles and brothers. I should have treated you to a meal, but as you know, the stoves at the educated youth settlement are all shared. The educated youth also have to cook every day, and I only have two small pots here, so I can't cook a large batch of food. I'm really sorry. To express our apologies, Lingling and I have prepared some things for you. Please don't mind them, and take them home to add to your meals."

Chen Shuning originally planned to prepare things for the builders after Zhong Lingling's house was finished, but because the conditions in the storage room were really too bad, Chen Shuning's body was covered with large welts from mosquito bites during the two days he stayed there.

So she was really eager to move into her own little house, and Zhong Lingling was too lazy to deal with these things, so she simply paid Chen Shuning to handle them herself.

Of course, Chen Shuning also said that he would wait for Zhong Lingling to come back so that they could deliver the things to the masters together, but Zhong Lingling refused, saying that she could handle it herself, which is why Chen Shuning said what he just said.

Those who work with Shen Dahe are all honest people, and they all agreed after hearing this.

"You don't need to be so polite, Chen. We know about your situation and understand."

“Yes, Chen, we can’t take these things. You should keep them for yourselves. It’s not easy for you young educated youths to go to the countryside.”

“Yes, Chen and Zhong are paid well, so we can’t take anything else.”

Listening to everyone's chatter, Chen Shuning felt warmed and said with a smile, "We didn't prepare anything, it's just a small token of our appreciation. We hope you won't mind. To be honest, we would feel bad if you didn't accept it."

Seeing that Chen Shuning was genuinely willing to give, Shen Dahe said from the side, "Take them all. This is also the sentiment of Chen and Zhong, the educated youths. They all live in the same village, so everyone should take good care of the two girls in the future."

After hearing Shen Dahe's words, everyone thanked Chen Shuning before taking the things and pushing the cart back.

After everyone left, Shen Dahe took out the account book for the house construction expenses and showed it to Chen Shuning.

“Chen Zhiqing, look, you gave my dad a hundred yuan back then. The land for this house is in the Zhiqing courtyard, and we also have a permit from the commune, so it didn’t cost any money. The rest were the costs of materials and labor. Because it was a house built by educated youth, the commune gave us some preferential treatment, so the materials and labor cost a total of eighty-four yuan.”

"However, the glass you asked for, Chen Zhiqing, is a bit expensive. The glass for the two windows and the two doors cost a total of twenty-five yuan."

However, my dad said that you educated youth receive a housing subsidy of fifteen yuan. If you live in the educated youth compound, this money is used for the daily maintenance of the house. But now that you are building your own house, this money is given to you directly.

"From now on, you'll have to pay for all the repairs and maintenance of this house yourself, so there's six yuan left. Chen Zhiqing, please keep this."

Chen Shuning was surprised to find that there was still money left over, so he happily reached out and took it. Then he handed over to Shen Dahe the pound of meat, half a pound of rock sugar, and two pounds of rice that he had prepared separately for Shen Dahe.

Shen Dahe initially declined, but after a brief struggle, he finally gave in and accepted the gifts.

Just before leaving, he remembered something and hurriedly stopped Chen Shuning, who wanted to go see the house, and instructed her: "Oh right, Chen Zhiqing, the newly built house is very damp, so you can't move in right away. I lit the fire wall and kang for you this morning. Keep an eye on the fire and don't let it go out. Keep it burning all night today, and then all day tomorrow. It should be ready by tomorrow night. I've prepared some firewood for you, enough for two days. You can get some more yourself when you have time later."

"Okay, thank you, Brother Shen."

While Chen Shuning happily went to see the house, Shen Dahe returned home and gave the things to his mother. Wan Guixiang opened them and asked in confusion, "Weren't we going to build houses for Chen and Zhong? Where did these come from?"

Shen Dahe naturally dared not lie when his mother asked him, so he told her that Chen Shuning and Zhong Lingling had given him these things because it was inconvenient for them to host a dinner party.

Upon hearing this, Wan Guixiang's face darkened. She glared at Shen Dahe and scolded, "You brat, have you never seen anything like this before? Do you think it was easy for those two young girls, Chen and Zhong, to come all the way from their homes to our rural village? Our village is too poor to settle them down, and we've already made them pay for their own houses, which is bad enough. You've only worked for them for two days, and it's already wrong of you to take their wages. Now you're taking so many of their things. Tell me what you're thinking."

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