The few of them were so busy working with the stones that they didn't notice that the sun was rising higher and Yan Dashan and the others had returned.
"Dad, what are you doing? Paving the ground with stones?"
The children called out for their parents.
"Brother, you guys came back early today."
"It's been around this time these past few days. Today we ran into Sanjiang at the town entrance. He came back with us."
"He didn't ask you anything, did he?" Yan Bingfa asked vigilantly.
"I asked, why not? You have so many questions, just like a woman."
"She asked us what we were delivering to town, and each of us had a backpack. She also asked what happened to Chunxiao, and whether she had a falling out with her in-laws. She had a ton of questions."
"I don't even want to talk to him."
"How did you respond?"
"Dad, don't worry. I told him someone in town was having a banquet and needed radishes, so we delivered them early this morning to earn some errand money. I asked him why he was going to town so early, and he said he was going to see a friend. I thought that was a little strange."
"If this matter can be covered up, let's cover it up first. Put down the backpacks and help step on the stone."
Now, 11 people were involved in paving the stones in the entire yard, and it was all done in more than half an hour. Zhou even postponed her meal for a while because of this.
"You know what? This yard looks much cleaner with stones paved than with mud. Come over, wash your hands and have dinner."
There was no extra work for the past few days and everyone was very relaxed. Tian planned to give the children a bath in the afternoon while the weather was good. New cotton-padded clothes and trousers were ready. She had originally planned to wear them before the Chinese New Year, but Zhou said that they should be worn as soon as they were ready. The weather was cold now and there was no need to wait until the Chinese New Year.
"Dad, we have pigs and chickens at home and it's almost New Year, so we need to keep someone at home. Shuwen just told me that someone in our village was robbed yesterday, and several of their chickens are missing."
"Some of the women in the village said that when we passed by. You're right, we need to be careful." Yan Bingfa looked at the people at the dinner table seriously. "From now on, no one can be left alone at home. Mother, you should stay with Chunxiao for the time being. She's far away. If someone who does evil wants to sneak in to take a look, it will be a big trouble."
"Dad, what you said is really scary. I have an axe. I put it by my bed when I sleep. I can close the doors and windows at night and it's fine. There is nothing to steal in this house except my room.
"Don't you have charcoal in your utility room? I think you'd better lock it." Dahe suggested.
"After tomorrow's work is over, there won't be much coal left. Don't worry, my eldest and second brothers' sisters-in-law are all at home. There's no need to be so nervous."
"In short, it's better to be careful. Every year during the New Year, there are always a few households that have problems."
Because they were worried about the livestock at home, Yan Bingfa and his friends left after dinner. The children wanted to play for a while longer, but the adults had to give them a bath, so they had no choice but to follow them back.
Chunxiao stepped on the stones in the yard and asked, "Mom, have you ever thought about going to town to do business?"
Mrs. Zhou smiled and shook her head. "We don't know how to do business. We don't even know how to do the math. It takes us half a day to calculate just selling a few eggs. How can we do business well?" She suddenly looked at Chunxiao. "Why, you have this plan?"
"My charcoal business is only going to last for a few days. I have to find a way to make money. Otherwise, I won't be able to live on this little money in the future."
Zhou walked up to her and asked, "So what kind of business are you planning to do? Do you want to set up a stall or rent a shop in town?"
"I have this plan in mind, but I haven't thought it through yet. Business isn't easy, so I'll see what I can do when the time comes."
"Then think carefully about what you want your mother to help you with."
Chunxiao smiled and said, "Mom, aren't you afraid that I'll spend all the money I have saved?"
"I know you're being measured now." Zhou felt her daughter had that ability. "Your brothers don't want to do that anymore, but I think you can do it."
With nothing to do in the afternoon, she set up five more kilns in the backyard. She would set up the previous ten kilns that night, and for the next few days, she would set up five more, so she wouldn't have to stay up late. Zhou sat in the backyard with her while she made shoes. Chunxiao had originally wanted to buy them each a pair of shoes, but Zhou quickly stopped her, saying they had plenty of scraps of fabric left over from making clothes and pants, enough for shoes. Tian and the others were also making shoes when they had time. Chunxiao let her do it.
On the second day, Chunxiao got up early in the morning, carefully put the previous receipts into her pocket, and put all the charcoal into the backpack. When the two brothers came, she had already made preparations. They set off happily. Today was the day to settle the bill, and they were looking forward to it.
When they arrived in town, they first sat at the intersection outside Fuqiu Lane for a while. When more people started moving around, they went to the backyard of Manager Sun's shop.
"You are quite punctual." The fat shopkeeper smiled and asked the waiter to weigh them.
The clerk weighed a backpack and reported the number to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper then looked at the backpacks behind Chunxiao and Yan Dahe and said, "The total before was 925 jin. If you add this backpack and add another 2 jin, it will be exactly 1000 jin. But I see that you still have about 100 jin left. How about this? You don't have to find a buyer anymore. I'll buy them all from you."
Taiga frowned.
Chunxiao smiled and said thank you.
The total was 1,123 jin (approximately 1,000 jin) of charcoal. Chunxiao had already calculated in her head that she would receive 61 liang (approximately 1,000 jin) and 765 wen (approximately 1,000 jin) of charcoal. The final total came out to her, exactly the same amount.
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