Chapter 139: Changing the roof, changing the roof, eating, and heading to the mountains...
Zhou Ye caught a glimpse of a smile in Lin Shu's eyes, his gaze trembled slightly, and he quickly retracted it, fearing that others would notice something.
But when he nervously glanced at the other people around him, he saw that everyone looked normal, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Zhou Ye sat upright like a pine tree, his expression calm, but his mind was a little wandering.
Ah Shu's glance just now was like a hook that hooked him, causing his mind to suddenly buzz, and he suddenly thought of the scenes of the two of them making out in bed at night...
But when he looked at Ah Shu again, Ah Shu was no different from usual.
Could it be that he saw it wrong...
Zhou Ye felt a mixture of guilt and uneasiness in his heart.
Zhao Laosan was eating a pancake with big mouthfuls. After hearing what Lin Shu said, he quickly swallowed the pancake in his mouth and replied, "You are too polite, Shu girl. Let alone half a day, a day or two will do. We can do it slowly during the day or two when A Ye is away."
When Liu Erzhuang heard this, he suddenly thought of something and quickly swallowed his food. He said to Zhao Laosan, "Uncle Zhao, my family's farmland isn't busy lately. If Brother Zhou Ye isn't working for a couple of days, my brother can come and help!"
There are three brothers in their family. The third brother is too young to do it, so naturally he can't do it, but the eldest brother works better than him, but... cough~ he eats more than him.
But compared with Brother Zhou Ye, his brother's appetite suddenly seemed nothing.
When I went back yesterday, my brother was so envious of all the delicious food he talked about.
The family was originally worried that his eldest brother would eat too much and cause trouble for Uncle Zhao San, so this was a good deal for him. The remaining work was all physical labor, and there were many things he couldn't do alone, such as lifting a piece of wood. He had to ask Wang Changshun for help, which was quite embarrassing. If his eldest brother was there, it would be much more convenient for the two brothers to work together.
Wang Changshun also reacted at this time. Thinking about his mother's words, he also said: "Uncle Zhao, my family can also do it! Although my brother is not as strong as me, he is much stronger than Liu Erzhuang. You also know that my family has little land, so it's no problem for my brother to stay here and help you with the work."
Liu Erzhuang: ...
He knew Wang Changshun had no intention of praising someone and putting one down. He had just casually spoken the truth, but Liu Erzhuang was still hurt. But he wasn't angry. He was young, so wasn't it normal for him to be a little weak?
Zhao Laosan was stunned for a moment before he realized that the food yesterday was so delicious that both the Liu and Wang families were satisfied and were willing to ask their other sons to help.
He was at a loss for words, thinking that he was afraid that the food wouldn't be good enough for him.
However, there was nothing to blame Zhao Laosan for. Helping others was a favor, and not helping was his duty. He was already very grateful that someone could help him when others were reluctant.
He immediately said to Zhou Ye: "Aye boy, you heard it too. I can find someone to replace you here. If you and A Shu have other things to do, go ahead and do it."
Zhou Ye has been helping out for the past two days, and the progress of the thatched house has been much faster. Even if Zhou Ye doesn't come later, it won't be a problem.
Zhou Ye nodded and looked at Lin Shu. "It depends on whether Ah Shu needs me. If Ah Shu doesn't need much work from me, I'll stay for half a day and come back tomorrow. If Ah Shu has a lot of work to do, then I won't go for the next two days."
As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Erzhuang and Wang Changshun looked at Lin Shu in unison.
They all hope that their brothers can also have a few good meals.
Lin Shu lived up to expectations and said to Zhao Lao San with a blush, "If Uncle Zhao San didn't absolutely need Ah Ye, I'd like to borrow his leave for two days, no, three days, including the market day. I've already agreed with my parents that the whole family will go to the market at the end of the month, and naturally, Brother Ah Ye will go too."
The words "Brother Aye" made Zhou Ye slightly distracted.
It had been a long time since he heard Ah Shu call him "Brother Aye". In the past, when Ah Shu called him like this, he felt that it was no different from calling him by his name directly. However, when he heard this suddenly, his heart was numb.
After hearing this, Zhao Laosan readily responded, "Okay, then you don't have to come for the next three days."
The remaining work would be done quickly, and he actually wanted to say that they didn't need to come later. With the three of them left plus the other two boys from the Wang and Liu families, there were five of them in total, which was definitely enough manpower. But Zhao Laosan was afraid that saying this would make Zhou Ye misunderstand that he disliked him for eating too much, so he didn't say it.
"Oh right." Zhao Laosan remembered something, "Aye boy, your roof can be replaced now. Tomorrow we will help you replace the roof and then continue our work."
Zhou Ye replied, "No need, Uncle Zhao, you guys go about your business. I've called Old Man Liao over here. The two of us are enough."
Zhao Laosan said, "I know you're strong, but more people will make the work go faster. Aren't you going to the mountains with Ah Shu? Why not go early?"
Zhou Ye: "Let's go after we change the roof in the morning and have breakfast. Ah Shu and I can just come back before dinner."
If you don't eat breakfast, you have to bring dry food. Whether it's the flatbreads made by Aunt He or other dry food, they will become hard and unpalatable if left for a long time. He's not picky, but Ah Shu is picky, and he knows she doesn't like it. It's cool in the mountains, so it's okay to go later.
After the meal, the men who had been busy all day went back to their homes, each of them very happy.
As for Zhao Laosan, the couple closed the door as soon as they returned home. Lin Zhaodi talked about the ice jelly drink business and looked forward to a good life in the future with Zhao Laosan.
Liu Erzhuang and Wang Changshun also brought back good news, and their parents were all delighted. With such delicious food, not only did they invite their two sons to go, but even their parents wanted to go too!
Zhou Ye's side, on the other hand, was peaceful. Lin Shu told him to make a few small bamboo shovels the next morning and dig a pit the size of a stove pit outside the courtyard. She didn't say anything else.
Zhou Ye couldn't tell whether he felt lost or something else. He thought Ah Shu had a lot to say to him.
When the family went to bed at night, Zhou Ye lay in bed dozing for a long time, but Lin Shu still didn't show up, and he felt even more disappointed.
The next day, Lin Shu was awakened by the sound of talking in the yard. The thatched earth house had no sound insulation, and she could hear every movement outside clearly, not to mention that she had half opened the window when she slept at night.
"Sister, you woke up so early?" Lin Xiaopu just ran into the house and saw Lin Shu sitting up, but she still looked sleepy.
Lin Shu sighed, "I have to wake up even if I don't want to. Who's coming outside?"
"It's Old Man Liao and Uncle Zhao. We're going to replace the roof today, right? Old Man Liao came over with a ladder. Dad didn't go to the fields, he was just chatting with Old Man Liao. Then, not long after, Uncle Zhao also came and said he would help replace the roof before going back to work on his own."
Lin Shu thought to herself: No wonder, they are just a bunch of rough old men, don’t expect them to be as considerate and silent as A Ye.
Lin Shu hurriedly changed her clothes and washed up. She had to pretend to be well-dressed when there were many people around, so as not to let her reputation as a lazy girl spread.
Lin Xiaopu covered her mouth and laughed secretly, "Sister, it's still early, I just got up too."
Then, she changed the subject, "It's just that for a girl my age, I'm still growing, so it's understandable that I need to sleep a little longer. As for my sister, hehe."
Lin Shu quickly grabbed her arm and flicked her head. "What are you talking about? You're always teasing me, your eldest sister. You're becoming more and more disrespectful."
After Lin Shu packed up and went out, things started to get busy outside.
When Zhou Ye saw her come out, he stepped forward and asked, "Ah Shu, did the loud noise outside wake you up?"
When he said this, he deliberately lowered his voice so that no one else could hear.
Lin Shu glanced into the courtyard and hummed, "It's okay, I slept well last night."
When Zhou Ye heard this, he glanced at her quietly, leaving Lin Shu puzzled.
Could it be that Aye didn’t sleep well last night?
She shouldn't have done that. She didn't bother him last night.
Lin Shu originally wanted to tease him, but there were many people in the courtyard today. Even if she lowered her voice so that others could not hear her, it would be better for her to restrain herself a little.
"Aye, go ahead and do your work. After breakfast we'll go to the mountains." Lin Shu said this in a soft and slow tone, staring at the tall and strong man without blinking.
Zhou Ye nodded, and when he turned around, he clenched his hands and then unclenched them.
He thought, he was not mistaken this time, Ah Shu, she was just trying to seduce him with her eyes.
He just accompanied Ah Shu to the mountains. What was Ah Shu thinking about?
~
Replacing the roof is not difficult, it just takes some effort. When building a new house, the thatch used to build the roof can be woven and placed directly on the beams, and then covered with mud and exposed to the sun. After it is dry, the second and third layers can be laid. This will save a lot of effort.
But in this already occupied house, to avoid disturbing the residents, the old roof was removed after the first layer of thatch had dried. The thatch, mixed with mud and dried, was much heavier, requiring the combined strength of two or three men to lift it.
With Ah Ye and Old Man Liao at home, the two of them were enough, but as the head of the family, Lin Dashan couldn't really do nothing when it came to replacing the roof, so he stayed. With Uncle Zhao also coming to help, the roof was replaced even faster than Lin Shu had imagined.
From removing the old roof to replacing it with a new one, and then laying the second layer of bark and the third layer of bundled dry thatch, the whole process was completed in just half an hour.
But this is all thanks to Aye who had done all the necessary preparations in advance, which saved time and effort.
After helping, Uncle Zhao continued to work on the thatched hut. Lin Dashan also carried farm tools to the field to weed the seedlings. Only Old Man Liao, who originally came to replace the roof, continued to deal with the old roof and other miscellaneous items with Zhou Ye.
While the men were busy, the women were also busy. By the time the roof was replaced, the rice in the pot was almost ready.
"Aye, after you finish cleaning up the clutter, go to the fish pond and catch some crucian carp for me. I'll make a crucian carp soup today." Lin Shu shouted.
Zhou Ye was tying up the dry thatch on the old roof that could be used again. Hearing this, he quickly responded.
Lin Shu turned to ask Old Man Liao, "Old Man Liao, have you considered it these few days? Do you want to come to my house for dinner?"
He Guixiang also looked at him, waiting for his reply.
Old Man Liao had been eating pickled vegetable porridge again for the past two days. With this contrast, he was definitely reluctant. However, he often had to catch the bus to town, and he had to get there early, otherwise the sun would be out and the ride would be too hot. He couldn't have breakfast at Old Man Lin's house unless it was raining heavily and the roads were difficult to travel.
"Can I just eat dinner? I come back early with the ox cart, so I won't be late for dinner. But I'm not sure about breakfast," said Old Man Liao.
Lin Shu immediately smiled and asked, "Why is it difficult to tell about breakfast? Since Old Man Liao is coming to my house for dinner, doesn't he know the next day's schedule when he's having dinner? Just let me know when you're having dinner the day before. As long as you're not going to town, or can go later, I'll prepare breakfast for you."
Old Man Liao felt very relieved when he heard this, and he couldn't help but grin. "Okay, then I'll listen to Ah Shu. I'll go back later and bring back a month's worth of food."
"Why are you in such a hurry? I'll remember it all. I'll give you the same one at the end of the month after you finish eating it."
"Brother Liao, just listen to Ah Shu. No need to be so polite." He Guixiang also said.
When Old Man Liao heard this, the corners of his mouth widened.
After listening to the conversation between the few people, Lin Zhaodi realized that Old Man Liao would actually have dinner at Ashu's house in the future. She couldn't help but think: Ashu is really smart. It will be convenient for her to do anything in the future if she has a good relationship with Old Man Liao.
Soon, she would be riding in Old Man Liao's ox cart to sell ice jelly. With Ah Shu's relationship, she might even be able to get Old Man Liao to leave earlier.
However, Lin Zhaodi also knew that Ah Shu was not kind to Old Man Liao for any purpose. She was kind-hearted and willing to help many people.
Today's breakfast is particularly lively.
Not only were Wang Changshun's younger brother and Liu Erzhuang's older brother here, but there was also an old man named Liao. The table was crowded with people, sitting together to eat, talking and laughing.
Old Man Liao didn't like to brag, but since the atmosphere was right, he started to brag a bit too. "The meal that Brother Lin treated me to two days ago was truly sumptuous! My sister-in-law and Ah Shu made a fish stew that was absolutely delicious. There was also a mushroom dish that was fried in oil, which was incredibly fragrant! Ah Shu also made fried rice cakes, which were fried until golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside..."
"Well, it's because last time Ah Shu had a high fever in the middle of the night, I drove a bullock cart to take Brother Lin and his wife to Daoxiang Village. I confiscated the cart fare, but they insisted on treating me to a meal."
"Brother Lin and Brother Zhao are both honest people in the village. It's worth it for you guys to come work for Brother Zhao! Look at this food, it's not much worse than what I had that day..."
"Hehe, yes, I will come to Brother Lin's house to eat from now on. I don't have a wife at home, so the food at home is cold and empty. Brother Zhao, you will also have a good time in the future. My sister-in-law has learned this cooking skill from Ah Shu..."
Everyone naturally ate their fill at this meal, especially the newly arrived eldest brother from the Liu family and the second brother from the Wang family, who were extremely happy.
After everyone dispersed, Zhou Ye didn't delay any longer. He packed up and was ready to set off.
Not only did he carry an empty backpack, he also hung his axe on his waist, and his usual sickle and an empty sack were also thrown into the backpack.
Lin Shu also took another basket from home, along with her own small shovel. She also asked He Guixiang for an old cloth.
The two walked one in front and one behind.
It wasn't that Zhou Ye was deliberately walking ahead, but even when he tried to slow down his pace, Ah Shu still followed him. He knew Ah Shu was deliberately lagging behind him.
When they met a few villagers on the way, they exchanged a few pleasantries as usual, and then they walked farther and farther away, getting closer and closer to the deep mountains and old forests.
Lin Shu glanced back, then took two steps forward, grabbed Zhou Ye's hand, and said with a smile: "Aye, I want to hold your hand and walk with you."
Zhou Ye was so frightened that his palms and arms trembled violently. He looked around like a guilty thief, and after making sure that there was no one around, he took the little hand that was offered to him into his big palm.
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