"What? Is it not okay?" Xing Zhaozhao asked. "I heard that no one has lived there for several years. It should be fine, right?"
Captain Gao looked at Xing Zhaozhao with difficulty: "Do you know who used to live in that house?"
Xing Zhaozhao nodded: "I've heard of it."
It happened thirty years ago, during the war. A father and daughter fled from another place and encountered Japanese soldiers on the way. The daughter was raped and, although she survived, she went insane. Fearing that she might accidentally hurt someone, the father built a house halfway up the mountain, far from the village. During the famine, the father starved to death, and the insane daughter disappeared. Her whereabouts were unknown, and it was said that she was probably dragged in and eaten by hungry wild animals in the mountains.
“It’s too far from the village and close to the mountains. If wild animals come, no one will hear you even if you shout for help. It’s too dangerous,” Captain Gao said.
Xing Zhaozhao insisted, "Hasn't it been many years since we've seen any man-eating wild animals in those mountains? And I see that the walls around that house are quite high, so there's no need to worry about safety. Even if a wild animal does come, my strength will be useful. If we can catch one, we can give the kids a treat."
The main problem is that although Gao Mingcheng's salary over the years has not been low, he has to send living expenses home, support his former disabled and retired comrades, the families of comrades who unfortunately died, and raise two children. He doesn't have much money left. Xing Zhaozhao probably only has a few hundred yuan left.
Although it's not a small amount in the village, she has no food rations now and will have to buy food for the rest of the year. Even if she starts working and earning work points right away, she can only earn a maximum of ten work points a day. The food rations she can get in a year probably won't be enough, especially since she has two boys in her family who are growing up.
Little Hongling was born prematurely. She's in relatively good health now, but you never know when she might get sick, and that will cost money.
Hongfei and Hongyu are both of school age now.
Upon closer examination, Xing Zhaozhao felt immense pressure.
If she lived closer to the village, with so many eyes watching her, she wouldn't be able to do whatever she wanted.
If she could live halfway up the mountain, it would be a different story. It would be much more convenient to go up the mountain to gather firewood, pick wild fruits, or go hunting. She could find a secluded place, clear some land, and plant something, and no one would know.
With this in mind, Xing Zhaozhao became even more determined.
"Just let me stay in that house, Captain," Xing Zhaozhao pleaded, looking at Captain Gao. "Or I can stay here temporarily, but I really can't get used to it. I'll ask you for permission to build a house later. The main thing is that I have a family of four, including a newborn baby. It's not convenient to find somewhere to stay, don't you think?"
After thinking it over carefully, Captain Gao agreed, saying, "Alright then, you can stay there for now. If you feel uncomfortable, don't force yourself. Tell me as soon as possible, and I'll find a way to help you."
Xing Zhaozhao immediately smiled and nodded in agreement: "Thank you, Captain."
After saying that, Xing Zhaozhao took Xiao Hongling from Hao Xiuning's arms, carried the huge bundle in one hand, and led the two boys towards the house halfway up the mountain: "Let's go home."
The two little ones held hands and skipped along behind, saying, "Great, we can go home now."
This time it's their own home; they no longer have to worry about being kicked out or having to put up with other people's attitudes.
The house halfway up the mountain is built of stone. Although it has been idle for some years, it is still sturdy. However, the yard is overgrown with weeds and needs to be tidied up.
Once inside the courtyard, Xing Zhaozhao casually put down the bundle in her hand, then picked up Xiao Hongling and led the two children around inside.
Although the house is not big, it has everything you need.
After entering the gate and passing through the courtyard, you'll reach the main hall. Behind the main hall are two side rooms, both with kang beds. To the right is the kitchen, which also has a small storage room. The outhouse is in the courtyard on the other side. There's also a small well in the front courtyard, so there's no need to worry about water. What surprised Xing Zhaozhao even more was that there was a cellar hidden in the corner of the backyard, providing a place to store things in the future.
Xing Zhaozhao, with her two children, first prepared a side room so that the family of four would have a place to stay. Then, she opened her bundle, took out some dried snacks, and made do with them for their first meal in their new home.
Just after we finished eating, Aunt Hao arrived with her daughter Xiuning, carrying all sorts of food and supplies, including a pot.
"Why did you bring so much stuff?" Xing Zhaozhao asked in surprise.
Aunt Hao glared at her: "You just moved in, you don't have anything yet. If I don't bring anything with me, what will you eat and use? Are you planning to starve?"
Xing Zhaozhao knew she was lacking in many things, so she smiled sheepishly and didn't refuse: "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, Auntie."
"Why are you being so polite with me? If you dare to be polite to me, I'll get angry with you." Aunt Hao said, and quickly carried the things into the house. She then walked around inside and out, helping her put the things away.
"I knew you didn't have a pot, so I brought my old one. It's chipped, but it's still usable. You can use it for now, and we'll buy a new one at the market."
"oh."
“These tables and chairs have been sitting for a long time and they’re all rotten. Just chop them up and burn them for firewood. I’ll go back and have your Uncle Hao make them for you. He used to be a carpenter.”
"good."
"Why are you still following me? You just gave birth and are still in your postpartum period. You can't overexert yourself. Go back and sleep with your little girl. Leave this to me and Xiuning. We'll make sure everything is perfectly tidy for you before dark."
"This... isn't a good idea."
"If you still want to call me aunt, then you have to listen to me, or I'll get angry."
"Oh well."
Xing Zhaozhao was sent back to the side room by Aunt Hao. She slept with her daughter for a while and breastfed her, but she couldn't lie still any longer.
There's no reason for her to just lie down while guests come to help clean.
However, she didn't dare to go near Aunt Hao, fearing she would be sent back again, so she quietly went to the cellar in the backyard to tidy it up so she could use it anytime in the future.
The cellar wasn't big, and it was currently empty, with nothing inside.
Xing Zhaozhao picked up a broom, swept the floor, dusted off the dirt, and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, she caught something out of the corner of her eye, and stopped, turning her head to look at it curiously.
In an inconspicuous corner of the cellar stood a door about the height of a person, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
When did it appear?
She clearly didn't see it when she was cleaning.
Xing Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, then turned around and walked to the door. She stared at it for a while, then couldn't resist and gently pushed it open.
"Squeak..."
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