My uncle's family is eating wild vegetable pancakes with pickled toon shoots, garlic, and some spicy dried radish.
The eldest son's wife and the second son's wife whispered to each other.
"Sister-in-law, you said you helped Dazhu's family for a few days, didn't you say you'd get paid?"
“Our parents have been working so hard for them for so long, even if we hire someone else, we have to pay them. How can we let someone work for free?”
The uncle scolded, "Alright, alright, we're all family. If we ever need anything in the future, just ask him for help, do you think he won't come?"
Da Shui chuckled, "That's right, that's right, women are just too easily swayed!"
It would have been fine if we hadn't brought this up, but as soon as we did, my aunt started grumbling.
"If you ask me, what they said makes sense. Whether we want it or not is one thing, whether they give it to us or not is another."
The uncle frowned, about to scold him.
But then they heard a boy's voice coming from outside the door.
"Grandpa, my dad asked me to deliver some meat to your family!"
About ten pounds of pork, sprinkled with salt.
Bang!
Place it on the dining table.
The eldest aunt was stunned, looking at the large lump of meat placed on the table, swaying precariously.
"This...this is for our family?"
"Uh-huh!"
"My dad said he wouldn't accept my grandfather's wages anyway, so I'll just give this meat to your family. I'm leaving now!"
The boy was very decisive and didn't wait for Uncle Chen to call him back.
The eldest son's wife and the second son's wife exchanged a glance, their eyes fixed on the meat.
He gave an awkward smile.
The uncle scolded, "See? You talk like a lazy bum. Don't you understand the slightest bit of social etiquette? Do you think you can wrong your own family?"
The eldest son's wife and the second son's wife gave an awkward smile.
"Father is right...right, I'll deal with this meat right now. It's hot today, I might as well stew it all!"
The uncle nodded.
"Yes, we can't let good stuff go to waste, let's get it done quickly."
Uncle Chen slapped his forehead.
"Hey, I forgot to ask, isn't it time to put the roof beams on Xian-ge's house?"
"No, I have to find him an experienced craftsman from the surrounding villages who knows how to do this job. Raising a roof beam is no easy task!"
"We cannot be careless."
He rambled on and on for ages.
...
The next day, very early in the morning.
The Chen family rode in an oxcart and bought a large load of goods.
New coarse cloth clothes, about ten pounds of wedding cakes, about ten pounds of peanuts, maltose, and melon seeds.
Under the big banyan tree at the village entrance.
Someone was whistling.
"Hey, Da Zhu's dad has really struck it rich, buying so much stuff?"
"That's right. Judging from the progress of their house construction, shouldn't they be putting up the roof beams by now?"
"No wonder! As soon as I entered the village, I saw Uncle Chen, shouting all over the village... looking for strong laborers who can climb the roof beams!"
Chen Xian stood on the oxcart: "Everyone, come to our doorstep later, and we'll scatter some wedding cakes for you!"
"good!"
A shout.
Uncle Chen stood at the entrance of the Chen family home with a group of strong laborers.
"You don't need to trouble yourself with this, Uncle. I'll have the workers help out and I'll cook them a nice meal at noon!"
Uncle Chen: "Never mind, I'm still a little worried about you handling things, this is a big deal!"
They were calling out to customers.
Uncle Chen directed the strong men, one of them climbing up the wall to hang the copper coins on the roof beam, and then finding more copper coins to place in various corners of the room.
Then, Uncle Chen took charge of the group.
"Okay, okay! Move it a little bit to the left, and a little bit to the right!"
"Good!" came a deep shout.
Uncle Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Perfect!"
The roof beams were positioned exactly where they were intended.
Then they started lighting firecrackers.
Crackling sounds.
Then it was the village children's turn, which was the most exciting part.
Chen Xian stood on a high place.
Start sprinkling wedding cakes, peanuts, and sugar on top!
The children and elderly below bent down to pick it up.
It was lively and bustling.
Place the wine on the table.
Then they arranged for Cuihua and a few other women to start cooking to entertain the men who had exerted so much strength.
After the roof beams are installed, the next step, adding the tiles, will be quick.
Among the crowd, Widow Dong was also pulling her two children along, bending over to pick up peanuts.
Cuihua grabbed a handful of melon seeds for each person in her family.
The widow, too busy to speak, nodded and said thank you.
Then they left with their children, heads down.
Several women in the village started to distract Chen Dashui.
"Hey, Da Shui, isn't this your Xiao Zhuo?"
Chen Dashui laughed and cursed.
"Screw you! Haven't you had enough of the show yet?!"
The woman grinned.
"You know what, your frivolous demeanor in the play is actually quite similar!"
"roll!"
The room was filled with laughter and playful banter.
Hearing this, Widow Dong panicked even more and left with her child, head bowed.
I also felt a little regretful, wishing I hadn't gone to act in that big show for the money.
At noon, the Chen family opened several jars of wine, letting the men drink to their hearts' content.
...
At the same time.
The manager of Baiweilou watched as firecrackers began to be set off across the street, past the signboard "Zuixianglou".
"Has the place across the street reopened?"
Waiter: "I heard that Tao, the manager of Taoranju, couldn't make it in business and slunk back to his hometown. I guess he sold Taoranju?"
Manager Jiang stared at the plaque, somewhat bewildered.
"That name sounds so familiar!"
Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he asked uncertainly, "Could it be a branch of the Wei family restaurant in the neighboring Laomiao Town?"
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