"Mix the cement. Start by building the 30cm height above the ground. Then apply the cement. I'll get the parts for the cigarette holder in the evening."
Zhou wanted to pump water, and there was a water well outside the small courtyard, which was used by the entire food station staff compound.
Ma Gua started mixing cement and sand, and Ling Ran went to the river to dig soil.
The east bank of the stream is to the west of the food station’s staff quarters, and the west bank is at the back door of a store east of the main street. The stream was still relatively clear at first, but it turned into a smelly river ten years later, and then it was paved over to build houses.
The three men began to build the kang and worked until dusk. They built the bottom thirty centimeters of the kang, applied cement slurry, and built the fire wall between the stove and the kang, which was twenty centimeters away from the beams of the house. They were worried that the fire wall would be too hot and the beams would catch fire.
Zhou wanted to get the parts of the cigarette holder, but Ling Ran said he would take them and bring them back tomorrow morning, and then he left with Ma Gua.
Zhou Xiang looked at the half-built kang and thought that he should buy some loose coal to make coal briquettes, or buy some large coal blocks. Just burning firewood, the branches he picked up in the autumn and the fallen leaves he swept were not enough.
If I want to get coal tickets, I can only go to those government agencies. It seems that after receiving the report card, I have to go to the city and see how Zuo Heng is doing?
The next day, Ling Ran came early again with breakfast, and Ma Gua also came.
"Hey, isn't this a jacket? You're the one who came to build the kang for my house?"
"Uncle Zhou, so this is your house? You are so lucky. Your daughter is so smart that she even figured out how to save energy on the kang."
Zhou Quan felt proud when he heard others praising his daughter, "No way! The little girl is just messing around."
"No, it's not a mess. If you take this blueprint to Northeast China, it will make those experienced kang builders cry. They have been building kangs all their lives and have never thought that this can be modified to be energy-efficient."
Zhou Quan's eyes lit up when he heard this. "Can this blueprint be sold?"
Zhou Xiang grabbed his father and said, "Dad, what are you doing? I've already made an appointment with Master Ma Gua, please stop talking nonsense."
After hearing what his daughter said, Zhou Quan knew that it was not good to regret it, it would be embarrassing!
Ma Gua felt embarrassed. They were all acquaintances in the town, and it was indeed a bit too much for him to take the girl's drawings directly.
"How about this, I'll build a kang and give you a 10% commission?"
Zhou wanted to remind him, "You have to know that there are probably not many people in this town who are willing to build kangs. My materials cost more than 100 yuan, and your technical work should cost at least 50 yuan per kang, unless you go to the county or city to find those government agencies and build kangs for them."
Ma Gua nodded and said, "I've made up my mind. Once you finish building the kang here, I'll go to the county town. There are still more than 20 days before the New Year. I can build a few kangs. I'll go to the city after the New Year."
"Okay, I'll take your commission. Let's get to work quickly. We should be able to finish the masonry today. You should bring two more people with you, and we'll be able to finish the work faster."
Ma Gua nodded and said, "I'll take my brother and my younger brother with me."
"After all, the materials are too expensive. If people don't believe it, you can ask someone to come and see my kang." Zhou Xiang thought for him.
"good."
At noon, Zhou wanted to give his father money to buy vegetables, leaving Ling Ran and Ma Gua to eat so that he could build the kang in one go.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the kang surface will be completely smoothed. We will start heating it tomorrow and it will take two or three days, and then dry it for about ten days. Well, we should be able to sleep on a warm kang before the New Year.
Ma Gua left in a hurry, and Ling Ran stayed to help collect the remaining materials, and then helped Zhou Xiang use the broken bicycle tires he bought to mend the window seams.
Zhou Xiang looked at the cracks and calluses on Ling Ran's hands and suddenly felt embarrassed.
"Ling Ran, thank you!"
Ling Ran turned around and saw the sincere gratitude on the little girl's face, and felt that the hard work of the past two days was worth it.
"Don't be polite to me. Just tell me if you need anything."
After Ling Ran nailed the three windows of the pot house, Zhou Xiang poured hot water and told him to wash his hands. He took out the Pechoin and said, "Use this to wipe your hands. Take the rest back and remember to wipe them every day."
Ling Ran happily carried the Pechoin home.
That night, Ling's mother saw the calluses and cracks on her son's hands and felt a little distressed. "You've worked too hard for the little girl, haven't you?"
Ling Ran said nonchalantly, "It's okay, it will be fine in two days. The room we live in is too cold, how can we survive without building a kang?"
Ling's father supported him, "For the sake of my future daughter-in-law, no matter how hard or tiring it is, it's worth it."
Ling's mother glared at him and asked her son, "Is the kang you're thinking about really useful?"
"Whether it works or not, wait until the kang is dried and ready to be heated. I'll take you to see it, and you'll know."
"Okay, if it's useful, we'll build one at home too."
In the space, Zhou Xiang started studying again. He had wasted a lot of time these past two days building a kang. His grades had dropped after he entered junior high school in his previous life. If he wanted to excel in an area, he had to master these basic knowledge.
After a good sleep, Zhou Xiang drank a cup of brown sugar water in the space, patrolled his territory, harvested the vegetables, picked the fruits, and also fed the chickens.
Zhou Xiang casually threw the two chickens under the fruit tree in the space, along with the chicken basket.
Zhou Xiang, who was feeding the chickens some rape roots, discovered eggs in the basket. Could it be that they were laying eggs again? Was he rejuvenated?
Holding two big eggs, Zhou thought about the space and looked at the cement slurry that had not yet solidified. He decided to cook breakfast on the new stove.
He dragged branches from the south corner and started to light leaves to make a fire. Father Zhou had spent a long time yesterday grinding the new pot on the new stove with broken bricks and then greased it. The first meal must also be cooked with oil, otherwise it would always rust.
Zhou Xiang simply beat the two eggs into a bowl, added water and flour, made an omelet, fried some spicy pepper and potato shreds, and rolled it up!
Peel the potatoes, cut them into shreds, pour in oil, sauté the dried chilies, add the shredded potatoes, soy sauce, salt, stir-fry, add some water, stir-fry again, remove from the pan, and cover with a bowl to keep warm.
Pull out the big branch from the bottom of the pot, scoop a spoonful of batter, turn the spatula a few times, and form a round pancake along the edge of the pot.
When Zhou wanted to make five egg pancakes, the waiter arrived again.
"Zhou Xiangxiang, I brought you breakfast."
"Brother, if you have something to do and come to see me, bring breakfast. If you have nothing to do and come to play, bring breakfast too. Do you have a lot of money?"
Ling Ran didn't expect that after so long, Zhou Xiang finally spoke up about this matter.
"I, I just think their breakfast is delicious, that's why..."
"Okay, put it down. You can try the breakfast I made later. Don't buy it for me tomorrow. Just eat it yourself. If you don't mind, you can come to my house in the morning and eat it. I'll treat you!"
Ling Ran's mood, which had just hit rock bottom, immediately lifted up again, "Okay! Let me help you?"
"I don't need it here. Please clean up the small dining table for me and we can eat soon."
Only then did Zhou's father and mother get up. "Huh? Why are you so early today?"
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