"I don't mean anything else. I just envy my little sister for having a mother who loves her so much. Look at this yard. Once the fence is put up, it's completely different. It's really habitable."
The bamboo shed over there was also erected, and the father and his two sons came over to help put up the fence. With the men joining in, the fence was quickly completed. As Chunxiao said, the yard was larger.
"The village head said he'd come over tomorrow to mark the boundaries. He gave me the deeds yesterday. I asked your mother to keep them for you. Have you decided where you want to mark the boundaries?"
Chunxiao pointed to the area on the slope where bricks were drying. "We all think the area on the east side is good. Circle that area and circle the rest to the right."
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Yan Bingfa looked at the fenced yard. "Now that it's finished, it really looks quite presentable. When the time comes to put the finished furniture in, it will be a nice place to live. It will definitely be a little simple at first, but we can slowly add to it as the situation develops."
"Dad, I'm already very satisfied. If it weren't for everyone's help, I would be homeless now."
"With us and your brothers here, you'll never be homeless and have your mind wandered." They tidied up the edges and corners of the yard. Finally, they dug two pits in the open space and began to bake bricks.
Chunxiao found it amazing that these fired mud bricks wouldn't dissolve even with water. Perhaps the high temperature had altered their molecular structure. Ordinary people were truly resourceful.
The bricks were baked, but it was already late, so they couldn't finish the building today. They moved the baked bricks into the house and put them away. "I'll keep watch here tonight," Yan Bingfa said, looking at the others. "The door has just been installed, and it needs to be fixed overnight. You can't lock it today."
Chunxiao was shocked, "Dad, there's not even a bed here where you can sleep? There's nothing to guard!" The temperature was low tonight, and it would be troublesome if he got sick.
"This place is so deserted. There are new doors and windows and new bricks. If you come across a bad brick, who would you go and complain to if they get it while no one is around?"
"Your father is right. Someone needs to watch over you."
"But how can we sleep if we have nothing? It's so cold at night." Chunxiao still disagreed.
"That's no big deal. Just get two stools and take down one of the doors in our utility room. You can sleep anywhere. You don't even need a mattress. Just wrap yourself in a quilt and you're done."
"That won't do. If anyone needs to guard it, it should be me. You shouldn't come."
"What can a little girl like you do? It's only for one night. Wait until the front and back doors are finished, and then finish the fence gate tomorrow. It will be locked at the back so it won't be a problem even if you're not there."
"That won't work either."
"Dad, you're old, it's really not appropriate for you to keep watch all night. How about I do it?" Yan Dashan saw the father and daughter arguing and quickly spoke up, "I'm in good health, so I can do it for one night."
"Yes, Dad, my brother and I are here, so it's not your place to keep watch."
"You young people are so sleepy that you might even fall asleep without even noticing. Let me do it. Let's not talk about it anymore. It's settled. I'll come over after dinner. Dashan, you stay here and watch until I arrive, then you can go back."
Seeing that Yan Bangfa had made up his mind, everyone had no choice but to agree. Fortunately, it was only for one night. When they got home, several children gathered around them and asked if the house was ready. They would go and take a look tomorrow.
"Wait a few days. Tomorrow I'm going to build a kitchen and a toilet for your aunt, or build a stove. Wait a few days until it's completely finished, then you can go over and take a look."
After dinner, Zhang took the child back to the next door. Zhou and Dahe took two stools, got off the door, took a quilt and accompanied Yan Bangfa to the end of the village. They also brought a homemade lantern in case it would be dark when they returned.
"Mom, where are grandpa and grandma going? Why are they bringing a quilt?" Yan Qi was sitting on a stool soaking his feet with his brothers and sisters.
"Go to my aunt's house and keep watch, for fear that someone will steal her things."
"I would have gone too if I had known earlier. I would have gone to keep Grandpa company."
Tian smiled and said, "I'll hang you on the wall when I get there, or I'll have no place for you to sleep."
"Auntie, are you still telling stories today?" Several children looked at her.
They were really addicted to listening to stories. Chunxiao walked over and squatted beside them. "Auntie has almost finished telling all the stories. Let me think about it again. If I think of something good, I'll tell you."
When the children heard this, they were a little disappointed, "Okay, then auntie, you want it to be faster."
Tian was pouring water for them. "They told me their stories today. They sounded quite interesting. No wonder they kept pestering you. Where did you hear them?"
Chun Xiao was stunned. She didn't expect her sister-in-law to ask about the source. "I just happened to see it in some of Zhou Hongzhi's books."
"You're also learning to read?" Tian was a little surprised that if he didn't know how to know what was written in the book.
Chun Xiao smiled awkwardly. "He reads every day, and I occasionally accompany him. Over time, I get to know him a little bit." She glanced at Tian, without showing any suspicion. "I only know a little bit, not much. I read the book half-read and half-guess."
"After all, your stay in the Zhou family isn't all bad."
"Auntie knows how to read and can teach us in the future." Shuwen has always been envious of children in the village who go to school in town.
"I am a half-baked auntie, so I dare not be your teacher. You should go to school to learn from now on."
"Don't tell them this. They are grown up now and will remember it." Tian reminded quietly, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by the excited children.
"Aunt, can we really go to school?" The two boys' eyes sparkled. Shufeng knew that studying was a boy's thing, and she could only join in the fun.
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