After dinner, Liu's mother quietly brought Xuemei into the room and said, "Xuemei, your father sold the big Ganoderma lucidum in the county town today. We'll keep the small ones for our own use."
"Mom, how much did it sell for?"
"I've been able to pay back the money I borrowed from your grandma. This is a reward for you."
"Mom, there are so many, is this the Big Black Picker?"
"It's Da Hei Shi, just keep it well. By the way, you didn't tell Qing Ya and the others about us picking Ganoderma lucidum! They are young and don't want others to trick them into telling you."
"Mom, I remember what you said to me. I didn't tell Qingya and the others."
…
It was already late in the evening outside the window, and the stars twinkled in the darkness, complementing the lights on the ground, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
Starlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Xuemei's face. She was so excited she couldn't sleep. She glanced at her sleeping sister, then pulled out the large black money she'd just received from her space, carefully examining and touching it. She then took out the rest of the money from her space and counted it all. It totaled thirteen yuan and five cents. Xuemei counted it several more times, still the same, and finally, reassuredly, she put all the money back into her space and slowly drifted off to sleep under the starlight.
…
After selling the Ganoderma lucidum, Liu's father and mother started going up the mountain to chop firewood. After two days of hard work, the firewood shed at home was two-thirds full.
"Brother Da, let's take a day off today, shall we? You have to go repair the reservoir tomorrow."
"Okay, after breakfast, I'll go get the Lingzhi while I'm free. I'll make breakfast for the kids, and you can get some sleep."
…
After Xuemei and Qingya went to school, Liu's father went to the old house alone and gave the dried Ganoderma lucidum to his parents.
When I got home, I saw Liu's mother making clothes in the yard.
"Mother, I'm going to give your parents some Ganoderma lucidum now. Do you want to bring anything else for them?"
"I'll go get some money for you. Pay back the money we borrowed from Mom and Dad, and then get a pound of dried mushrooms. Mom and Dad love to eat them."
Liu's mother went to the room, took out 150 yuan, wrapped it in a towel and handed it to Liu's father, then went to get a cloth bag to fill it with dried mushrooms.
Father Liu took his things and prepared to leave. Ruirui and Feifei just came back from outside to get their wooden spears. When they saw Father Liu go out, they wanted to follow him.
"Rui Rui, Fei Fei, you stay home with your mother. Dad is going to your grandma and grandpa's house to deliver some things. He will be back soon."
"Rui Rui, Fei Fei, stop clinging to me. Your dad goes out and comes back quickly, and you can't keep up with him. Mom happens to be free today, so go to your eldest sister's room and get a picture book. I'll teach you how to read while I make clothes, and then you can go out and play after you learn how to read."
Ruirui and Feifei's faces immediately drooped, but they didn't dare to resist Liu's mother, so they could only go to the room to get the book.
"By the way, Dad, how far is Wangjia Village from where the reservoir is being built?"
"It's probably about twenty miles away. If you walk quickly from Wangjia Village, it will take more than two hours."
"Then let me discuss something with you. I'm not worried about my parents; they don't need to go to build the reservoir. But I don't know who will go to my second brother's house. It's going to be cold in a few days, and sleeping in a straw hut at night will be too cold. Can he stay at our house while he builds the reservoir?"
"Sure, that's what I was planning to do. I'll go there today and tell my second brother. I'm off now!"
"Okay, take the goodies! Watch out!"
…
It was already past three in the afternoon when Liu's father came back, followed by Liu Zhiqing.
"Dad, I thought you were coming back for lunch. You said you'd be back soon."
"I was planning to come back after delivering the things, but my second brother told me to come back with Zhiqing after lunch."
"Aunt, thank you and uncle for your help. These are my rations and the things my mother brought for you." Zhiqing handed the eggs in his hand to Liu's mother.
"Zhiqing, it's just like being at home at my aunt's house," Mrs. Liu took the eggs from Zhiqing. "I'll take what you brought this time, but don't be so polite next time you come to my aunt's house."
"Dad, put Zhiqing's quilt and clothes in the room on the left side of the main hall."
"Zhiqing, you'll sleep in this room for the time being." Mother Liu pointed to the room across from Xuemei. "The straw mat on the bed is newly woven, and the mattress has been sun-dried. I guarantee you'll sleep warmly."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie."
"Okay, Zhiqing, come with me. By the way, here are some dried salted fish that Dad and Mom brought."
"Okay, let's have some dried beans and salted fish stewed with dried beans tonight. Let's have something delicious. You're going to repair the reservoir tomorrow. Zhiqing, you can't just ignore your work tomorrow. You have to take it easy. You're still young and your body is still developing. Don't get hurt."
"Aunt, I know. Dad, Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma all told me. I will remember it."
In this way, my cousin Zhiqing settled down in Xuemei's house. Every morning after breakfast at six o'clock, he would take his lunch and go to repair the reservoir with the people from Liujia Village. He would come back with Liu's father only after dark in the evening.
…
The rain outside was getting heavier, mixing with the freshness in the air and wisps of cold wind, like icy needles, hitting the ground with a ding-dong sound.
"Mom, it's raining so hard now, and the wind is so cold. It's a good thing we don't have to go to school today, otherwise we would be soaked and catch a cold." Xuemei finished her homework and walked out of the room and said to Liu's mother who was making clothes.
"Mom, what are you looking at?"
"Look, why haven't your father and cousin come back yet? It's raining so hard today, and it's cold. They probably shouldn't build the reservoir."
"It's raining so hard right now. Dad and cousin might be hiding somewhere."
"Maybe? Otherwise, why wouldn't they be back when so many people from the village have returned? Xuemei, watch Qingya do her homework while I go to the kitchen to make some brown sugar ginger soup and boil some bath water for your father and the others."
"Okay, mother, remember to bring your cloak so you don't get wet."
After Liu's mother boiled the water, Liu's father and eldest cousin returned. Although both of them had cloaks, their cotton-padded jackets were also mostly soaked.
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