Yan Xiaoqiang was called out by the village chief early in the morning. When he returned, Grandma Yan asked Xiaoqiang to dig a cellar in her house so that she could store things in the future.
Yan Xiaoqiang went into the room and looked around. His mother's room was sunny and sheltered from the wind, so it was a suitable place to dig a cellar.
Using a shovel, he drew several lines at the spot his grandmother had indicated: "Mom, shall we dig a well-kiln to save on materials?"
Grandma Yan nodded. The well-kiln is good for keeping things warm and moist, and it's also a good place to store some food.
"Mother, my eldest brother has gone back. Let Southeast squeeze into Southwest's place for a while. You and Nannan can stay in that room."
Originally, Southeast lived in the newly built house at the back, while Yan Xiaonan occupied a large room all by himself.
But now that it's the dead of winter, Grandma Yan was afraid that the little girl wouldn't sleep soundly at night, so she tricked Yan Xiaonan into coming back and let Dongnan come back to live with her as well.
Upon hearing this, Grandma Yan shook her head: "The room in the southwest is not big, don't move it. Let Xue Mei move in, and let Dong Nan move out."
“Okay, I’ll do as you say, Mom. I’ll start digging after lunch. You can have Cuihua help you tidy up.” Yan Xiaoqiang agreed.
Cuihua and Yan Xiaoqiang, of course, knew why their mother wanted to dig a cellar and both agreed. Everyone sat around the table to eat, while Yan Beinan could only write a self-criticism in her room.
At the dinner table, Yan Xiaoqiang said, "I just went with Uncle Village Chief to check on the winter wheat. The ones near the outer edges have all frozen to death, but the ones in the middle are still alive."
Grandma Yan sighed and said, "May the Bodhisattva bless us with a good harvest next year, otherwise how will we survive?"
Southwest and Xuemei also looked worried. Southeast lowered his head and said, "Grandma, Dad and Mom, after the cellar is dug, I want to go to school. I'm taking the college entrance exam this year, and I want to live at school."
Grandma Yan felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this, thinking how sensible the child was: "Southeast, is it cold at your school? Is there a heated brick bed?"
Yan Dongnan smiled: "Grandma, the school is in town, so I can come back whenever I want. It's just that time is tight right now, so I have to save time."
"I'll take you there. Bring plenty of money and tickets; these days, you need money and tickets to eat out," Yan Daqiang said.
Cuihua nodded quickly: "Take the new bedding set made this year, it'll keep you warm. Also, take a thermos with you, your uncle brought two this time."
Xuemei also spoke up: "Dongnan, I'll make some more food, you'll get hungry if you study late tonight."
Yan Xiaonan looked at Dongnan with bright eyes and said, "Big brother, go to university."
Southeast patted Yan Xiaonan's head and said, "Come visit your brother at school when the weather gets warmer."
Yan Xiaonan nodded: "I brought some delicious food to see my older brother."
Everyone laughed at this foodie.
Cuihua was busy switching her bedding with Dongnan's, and also busy cleaning. Cuihua helped Grandma Yan organize her things and moved them to Dongnan's room.
Yan Xiaoqiang and Dongnan started digging the cellar. They first dug a square well, about 70 centimeters in diameter, and planned to dig it to a height of about four meters.
These tasks were easy to do. The father and son took turns digging the soil, and the people from the north, south, and southwest helped transport the soil. The task was basically completed in one afternoon.
Yan Xiaonan looked at the four natives and covered her mouth to laugh. Seeing his little girl's appearance, Yan Xiaoqiang felt full of energy and wanted to quickly prepare to hide things for his little girl.
Xuemei and Cuihua had already boiled two large pots of hot water, urging the four of them to quickly wash their hair, take a bath, and change their clothes. Xuemei even wanted to wash her outer clothes, but Cuihua stopped her.
We still have to dig tomorrow, so we can wash them after we've finished digging them all. Xuemei nodded and said, "We need to wash our undergarments quickly. Each of us only has two sets, and if we don't wash them, we won't have anything to change into."
Southeast kicked both North and Southwest in the buttocks. Both were bewildered by the kicks, and North immediately shouted angrily, "Brother, why did you kick me?"
Southeast glanced at North South and said, "What are you doing? You want Xue Mei to wash your own undergarments? How dare you?"
Bei Nan and Xin Nan exchanged a glance, then quickly covered their bottoms and ran to the kitchen, where they picked out all their clothes.
Then they played rock-paper-scissors, and whoever lost had to wash the clothes. Southwest won, and North and South had no choice but to take a basin and obediently go wash their clothes.
Cuihua was a little annoyed. The two boys were grown up and should wash their own clothes. How could she let Xuemei wash them? As for Yan Xiaoqiang, Xuemei was still young now, but it wouldn't be right after they got married.
Xuemei didn't mind at all. It was just washing a couple more undergarments. Beinan and Xinan were still small, but the care from Dongnan made her feel so sweet inside.
The next morning, the four men changed into their coats, which were covered in mud from the previous day, and continued digging the cellar. Yan Xiaoqiang decided to dig two cellars, one on the left and one on the right.
It doesn't matter if it's in the southeast, we'll dig the same thing. Digging one more won't hurt. A cellar about two meters high, one meter wide, and three or four meters deep should be enough.
"Dad, how about we get another ladder? You dig a hole in the cave wall, but if you don't step firmly, you might fall and die," Southeast said, looking at the cave wall.
Yan Xiaoqiang glanced at it and nodded. Most of the time, Cuihua and her mother probably went down to the cellar, so it had to be secure.
“Then you go ahead and dig. Southwest, come down and dig with your brother. North and South, come with me to the back to get the wood. We still have a lot of wood left from the last time we built the house.”
The two brothers who were carrying soil quickly agreed. One picked up a shovel and started digging a hole, while the other followed Yan Xiaoqiang to the back.
Yan Xiaonan was very kind-hearted. She contributed her own malted milk powder and poured a large mug of tea, giving them a small cup when they felt tired, as a way of showing her care.
Bei Nan and Xin Nan were enjoying their malted milk powder, feeling very happy. They thought all the work they had done these past two days had been worthwhile. Nan Nan was so kind of her, being willing to bring out such precious malted milk powder.
In three days, the cellar was dug and the ladder was made. Now all that was left was to build another layer with bricks. The bricks from the last house construction would come in handy.
Southeast couldn't wait any longer; he had to go back to school to register tomorrow. Fortunately, he had a bicycle at home, so Yan Xiaoqiang could go back and forth in about an hour.
Xuemei was reluctant to part with him, but Dongnan's studies couldn't be delayed, so she quickly found his bag and put his change of clothes inside.
“Southeast, if there’s no hot water at school, just leave it at home to shower,” Xuemei said.
Southeast shook her head; "Xuemei, I plan to come back once a month, so bring more clothes and stuff. There are places to get hot water over there, and you can get a pot of water for one cent."
Xuemei nodded, then suddenly said, "Southeast, how about I come to your school every week to wash your clothes, or bring them back to wash? I'll come by bicycle."
Southeast's eyes lit up: "You've learned to ride a bicycle?"
Xuemei nodded: "I learned it when I was learning in the Southwest last time, but it can only be done by one person at a time, you can't bring others along."
"Then come to school with me tomorrow. I'll take you there, and you can walk back by yourself, okay?" Southeast asked with a smile.
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