"Qiangzi, are you home?"
After a while, a thin young man came out of an earthen house that was not much better than Aunt Du's.
He looked to be in his early twenties at most. He was tall, with ordinary features, but his eyes and eyebrows were bright and lively.
"Why is Grandma Du here?"
"You didn't set up the stall today? Where's Xiaoya?"
The boy scratched the back of his head shyly:
"It's cold, so sales haven't been good lately. I thought I'd make a few more while I can and then go again when the New Year is approaching and there are more people. Xiaoya's gone to collect firewood."
Aunt Du nodded:
"Indeed, business only comes when there are more people. Oh, by the way, this is the young lady who just came to our village. She will live here from now on. She is staying at my house for the next few days. I was thinking of buying some furniture for you."
Mao took over the conversation:
"I want to make a dining table and some stools. It would be even better if there are ready-made ones."
Qiangzi nodded continuously:
"Yes, yes, come in and take a look. If you find one you like, I'll send it directly to you. If you don't like it, give me a few days and I can make it for you."
The small room was filled with various small pieces of furniture, including quite a few benches and tables.
Mao chose a small rectangular table and four stools. They were all tung oiled, and the natural wood color gave them a rustic feel. The edges were polished to a very smooth finish.
Wen Xi pointed to the cabinets by the wall:
"Mom, should we get a wardrobe? We have nowhere to put our clothes."
Mao went over to touch it and was very satisfied with the workmanship. He chose a wooden cabinet of the same color and said to Qiangzi:
"Then let's add this cabinet! The room is small and can't hold too much. That's all for now! Calculate how much silver it should cost. When the house is built next spring, I'll definitely ask you to help with more."
Qiangzi was a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched his head:
"I'm glad you like it. The bench is twenty wen, the table is one hundred and eighty wen, and the cabinet is two hundred wen! A total of four hundred and sixty wen. In the county, it would be twenty or thirty wen more expensive. We are all neighbors in the village, so I can only earn a hard-earned living."
Mao nodded, and seemed very satisfied with the price. Wen Xi pulled her:
"Mom, do you want to buy another kang table? It's for my little brother."
What was it for? Writing? Would there still be a chance to study? Mao knew their status might never lead to a successful career, but she didn't want her children to worry, so she nodded.
Qiangzi cleverly moved a table over:
"Add this and we'll make it an even number, five hundred wen."
After paying the money, Qiangzi put the furniture on the cart and prepared to deliver it.
At this time, a small figure came in carrying a large bundle of branches. Perhaps because the bundle was too large, or perhaps because she was afraid of dropping it, her waist was bent severely, almost to 90 degrees.
Qiangzi put down the cart and hurried over to put down the firewood on the man's back, saying distressedly:
"Xiaoya, didn't you say you could just pick up some from the side? Why are you carrying so much? Besides, if my brother takes a little time every morning, he can pick up a lot!"
The little girl smiled brightly:
"Brother, put it down. I'm very strong!"
Aunt Du also went over to pat the dirt off her clothes and said with concern:
"You are just a little kid. Take it easy when you work. Be careful not to grow tall in the future."
Xiaoya pouted and said:
"Grandma Du, just coax me. I won't be fooled by you like when I was a kid!"
Qiangzi just remembered that there were guests and introduced them with a smile:
"Excuse me, everyone. This is my sister, she's eight years old. We're the only ones who depend on each other for survival. This girl is used to going crazy every day."
Then he said to Xiaoya:
"This is our new neighbor, Aunt Mao. Call someone..."
Xiaoya shouted obediently:
"Hello, auntie."
Mao smiled and nodded. She just liked the sweetest child like this:
"Okay, okay. She's one year younger than our Wenxi. Come play with her later."
At this moment, Wen Xi was looking at the child opposite from Mao, her little head popping out from behind her. She wondered if she really wanted to make friends with someone her own age. Could she handle the situation?
Xiaoya smiled widely and looked at Wenxi expectantly, because she had almost no friends.
Wen Xi received this kindness and generously invited her:
"Come find me when you're free."
Xiaoya sighed with joy, instantly feeling like a child who had received candy.
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