Xiao Tian looked at the group of people building a thatched hut and asked, "This thatched hut doesn't keep out the wind and rain, so what will they do when it rains?"
Chen Shi sighed and said, "It's not easy to work outside. It's very hard. Their homes are far away, so they can only build a thatched hut here to sleep. When it rains, they can only accept their bad luck."
Chen Kai looked at the sheds they had built. Each one was separate, probably built by the families of the people who stayed behind to work, or by people from their village. These sheds were very simple, supported by a few wooden poles, with a thatched roof, and three sides enclosed by woven straw curtains, leaving one side open for entry and exit. The ground was covered with thatch for sleeping.
Chen Kai asked, "Have all those who weren't selected gone back so quickly?"
Chen Shi said with a smile, "Some of those who live nearby have already gone back, while those who live far away can't get back in half a day, so they have to rest for another night and go home tomorrow."
Chen Kai asked curiously, "How did those people from the neighboring county know that we were hiring here and manage to come over at this time?"
Chen Nong quickly added, "I know that. Whenever a farm is hiring, they will notify the nearby farms in advance so that they can spread the word in the surrounding villages. However, they don't know the exact time, only the general idea. Once those looking for work hear the news, they will rush over to wait."
Xiao Tian asked, "How long will they stay here?"
Chen Shi said, "I heard that the Liu family bought a lot of wasteland this time, but now that the Liu family's village has new sleds, they won't be able to use it for long. It won't take long for 50 people to clear the wasteland together."
Chen Kai noticed an elderly couple not far away staring at them. They walked over hesitantly, looking at one of them and then another, and asked in a conflicted tone, "Are you Chen Nong and Xiao Tian?"
Hearing the voice, Chen Nong turned around and exclaimed happily, "Grandpa, Grandma, is that you?"
The elderly couple, seeing that they hadn't mistaken them for someone else, happily tried to hug them, saying, "Yes! Yes! It's us. You've all grown up so much, your grandparents almost didn't recognize you. How is your mother's health?"
When Xiao Tian saw them trying to hug him, he immediately dodged away and pushed his brother Chen Nong over to them.
Xiao Tian said, "My mother is at home! Do you want to come to my house?"
The elderly couple took turns hugging Chen Nong. Xiao Tian's maternal grandfather said, "Can we hug you? Your grandparents don't allow us to come to your house."
Old Man Chen doesn't allow his two daughters-in-law's families to come to their house. They only go back to their parents' home occasionally during the Chinese New Year, and the two daughters-in-law don't have any objections.
Chen Nong said, "Grandpa, Grandma, my grandparents aren't home right now. Would you like to come to our house for a while?"
Xiao Tian's maternal grandfather quickly waved his hand and said, "No need, we're going back tomorrow. When you get back, tell your mothers to come find us after they finish their work this afternoon!"
Xiao Tian's maternal grandmother said, "We came here with our family to apply for jobs. We heard that the job openings were near your village, so we thought we'd come along and visit you while we were at it."
"Xiao Tian, Chen Nong, your uncles and cousins are here too. They just went to find firewood and water. Would you like to see them later?"
Xiao Tian's maternal grandfather said, "It's almost lunchtime, you should go back and eat first! Come see us again this afternoon!"
After Xiaotian's mother married into the family, they didn't see each other many times. They only met Xiaotian and Chen Nong once when they were a little over one year old.
Chen Kai figured it was probably time for dinner at home, and his parents should have already gone home, so he said, "Okay, then we'll go home and eat first. I'll tell my second sister-in-law to come and see you later."
After Chen Kai finished speaking, he had Chen Shi carry him away, and Chen Nong and Xiao Tian followed him back.
On the way back, Chen Shi said, "I don't know if my grandparents have come yet. I haven't seen them for a long time."
Chen Kai was quite young, and he didn't recall ever meeting his sister-in-law's family.
Chen Kai patted Chen Shi on the shoulder and said, "After we go home and have dinner, we'll come out with you to look for people again."
Chen Nong said with a smile, "Then I'll thank you in advance, Uncle!"
When they got home, the meal was almost finished, but food had been left for them.
After they finished eating, Chen Nong told his mother about it. His mother hadn't seen her family for a long time, so she looked expectantly at Chen's father and Zhou Shi.
Old Man Chen said helplessly, "Alright, go and call your parents over to our house to rest! Eldest daughter-in-law, go and see if your parents have arrived yet. If anyone from your family has come, call them over too!"
Upon hearing what Old Man Chen said, the eldest daughter-in-law asked Daya and the others to go out with her to look for people. Chen Shi and Chen Nong also went out to look for people.
When Chen Nong saw his maternal grandparents, his uncles and cousins were also there. Chen Nong happily ran over and said, "Grandpa, Grandma, my grandparents have agreed to let you come to our house. Come with me!"
His grandfather said, "Okay! Okay! We'll go right now."
Seeing that his uncles and cousins had not gotten up, Chen Nong urged, "Uncles and cousins, you can come to my house too."
His grandfather asked in surprise, "Can they all go too?"
Chen Nong nodded, telling them to quickly pack their things and come with them.
After Chen Nong brought them back to the Chen family home, not long after, the eldest son's wife returned with her parents and other family members.
The eldest son's wife and her family gathered together, while the second son's wife and her family gathered together; they were chatting in the front yard.
Chen Kai ran to their room, found Zhou Shi, and said in a coquettish tone, "Mom, we still have a lot of black flour steamed buns and black bread left over from yesterday. Let's give them to the people in the front yard!"
After scolding Chen Kai, Zhou said, "Good son, go and take three black bread buns and five black steamed buns to each of their families! But after they finish eating, they have to go to work in the fields. This food can't be eaten for nothing!"
"Thank you, Mom!" Chen Kai said, running out happily.
In the front yard, Chen Kai called over Daya and Chen Nong and told them that Zhou Shi wanted them to go to the kitchen and get three black bread buns and five black steamed buns for their maternal grandparents.
Upon hearing this, Daya and Chen Nong happily went to the kitchen to get some food.
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