Chapter 10: Discussing the Division of the Family
Mother Zhou came to the kitchen with three dollars and fifty cents, "Chunyan, this is the money from selling the rabbit, keep it for yourself."
Zhou's father and mother only cared about the cents their children earned from work. No matter how many children did odd jobs, the money earned from selling mushrooms and mountain products was kept by each family.
Over the years, the three older brothers have saved some money, but Zhou Huaian is the only one who is still penniless.
"Well, thanks, Mom!" Yang Chunyan wiped her hands on her apron, took the money and put it in her pocket.
Zhou's mother said to the two of them, "After washing the dishes, come to the main room. Your old man has something to tell you."
"Okay!" The two agreed and sped up.
Clean the steamer and colander, wash the steaming screen and hang it on the wooden nail on the wall, scoop two scoops of water to clean the pot, fill both pots with water, add a handful of firewood to the stove and boil two pots of hot water for the family to wash.
Yang Chunyan cleaned the area in front of the stove, swept up the residue and shoveled it into the stove, then burned the ashes to make fertilizer.
These days everything used in the countryside can be recycled, and there's hardly any garbage to be found.
The two sisters-in-law cleaned up the kitchen and went to the main room, where everyone was waiting.
Father Zhou asked Mother Zhou to take Zhou Xiaolin to bed, and when she came out, he began to talk: "Originally, we planned to build a few thatched houses and let you live separately. Your mother and I will continue to work while we can. When we can't work anymore, we will let you provide us with food."
Zhou Huairong said: "Old man, even if you can still work, it is our duty to respect you and mom. We should give as much as others give when they divide their property."
Zhou Huaijun: "Yes, we have said before that as long as you ask, we are willing to stay and live with you."
Mother Zhou waved her hands after hearing this, "No need, I know you are filial, after we separate the family, you should come to visit us every now and then."
Zhou Huaian said, "Mom, old man, how about Chunyan and I stay and live with you?"
Zhou's mother glared at him and said, "Forget it. Your husband and I still want to live a few more years. I hope you don't get angry with us."
"You want to live with us?" Zhou's father glared at him. "You wish! Do you think I don't know what you are planning? I tell you, if you still don't do anything after the division of the family property, I will break your legs."
Zhou Huaian glanced at Zhou's father, lowered his head and muttered softly, "You said it as if you can rest and stop working if you don't live with me. Look, my grandfather is over 70 years old, and he still has to work and herd sheep."
"What did you say?" Zhou's father raised his pipe and tapped him, "Speak louder to me."
And beat him in front of so many people!
Zhou Huaian felt that he was really picked up, and said unhappily: "I didn't say anything. I said that if you don't want to live with me, forget it. We can live separately."
Father Zhou felt better after hitting Zhou Huaian. He turned to look at Yang Chunyan and said, "Thanks to Chunyan, she found out that something was wrong with the cow of Lao Xiong's family. That's why we were able to get the treasure."
Then he turned his head and looked at his brothers, and changed the subject, "Although that thing can be sold for a lot of money, it's only a one-time deal. You still have to work honestly in the future. I plan to ask Liu the kiln craftsman to help with the kiln and repair the brick and tile house, which will save you some money and you can also have more assets."
Rural people are willing to endure hardships and have a lot of strength. They will never ask others to do something if they can do it themselves, except for Zhou Huaian of course.
The three older brothers nodded repeatedly, "Got it.
Father Zhou glared at Zhou Huaian who pretended not to hear and said, "You brothers should work together to build the kiln, and repair the house together after the bricks and tiles are built. Also, we will take the money from selling the bezoar first, and divide it up after the house is built."
He paused and continued, "After I separate you, I want to bring your grandfather to live with us, so that he doesn't have to move several times a year."
Li Qiuyue glanced at Zhou Huaishan, then looked at her sisters-in-law, and saw that no one said anything and no one dared to speak.
Regarding the separation of the family and moving in with grandfather, Zhou's father had told a few people about it when he held Zhou Huaian's wedding before the New Year. At that time, the brothers all said that they had no objection.
The two elders said at the time that the money saved at home was only enough for four brothers to build three thatched houses each. Once the houses were built, they would split them up and bring their grandfather to live with them.
Who would have thought that Zhou Huaian would spend all the money, and Yang Chunyan turned a bad thing into a good thing in the blink of an eye.
Four hundred and five might turn into four thousand five, seven thousand five or even more.
The thatched house was turned into a big tiled house. It is very likely that it was rebuilt into three rooms at one time. What does it matter if it is built half a year earlier or later?
Zhou Huairong was the first to express his opinion, "Old man, we will do whatever you say. But I think the wood stored at home may not be enough, so I think we should go to the brigade secretary during the slack season.
Ask him to help write an application and go to the Forestry Bureau for approval, and go up the mountain to cut some fir and camphor trees... and bring them down to dry, and the remaining ones can be used to make furniture for repairing the house."
Zhou Huaijun took over the conversation, "Old man, we all listen to you. I heard that the management of cutting trees in the mountains will be stricter in the future. I think we should cut down trees as soon as possible."
Father Zhou took two puffs of his leaf cigarette and said, "Big brother, come with me to deliver a few pounds of beef to Secretary Xu later. Third brother, youngest brother, what do you say?"
Zhou Huaishan: "Old man, I have no objection."
Zhou Huaian: "I have no objection either." It's no use even if I have an objection!
He changed his mind and realized that although it was not bad to live like this, it was also embarrassing to be beaten and scolded by the old man and his wife in front of his nephews and nieces.
It’s better to separate them. The old man can’t possibly go to his house and beat him up!
Father Zhou saw that no one had any objections and nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, tomorrow Chunyan, Huai'an and Huairong, we will go to the county town together."
Zhou Huaian was delighted after hearing this. He glanced at Yang Chunyan and felt that his young wife really kept her word. The old man really let me go to the county town with him.
Yang Chunyan lowered her eyes: "Silly boy, since we are going to the county town, it is impossible for my father-in-law, my uncle and I to go alone! We must bring you with us."
Zhou Huairong followed his father to get the meat to the captain's house, and several people in the main room went out one after another.
Yang Chunyan went to the backyard with her homemade kerosene lamp.
(The oil lamp bottle was a waste glass bottle obtained from the brigade clinic. A hole was drilled in the metal bottle cap with an iron nail, and then an empty tube was rolled up with toothpaste tubes, and cotton thread was put into it. Then a wire was tied to the bottle so that it could be hung on the wall. A free kerosene lamp was made.)
Yang Chunyan still remembers that there was a plum tree in the backyard, and vaguely remembers that the plum fruits on this tree were crispy and sweet.
There is also a yellow horn orchid outside the west wall of the courtyard. When the breeze blows, bursts of fragrance waft into the air.
In the pigpen built at the east end of the backyard, there were four black pigs sleeping soundly huddled together. They looked to weigh about sixty or seventy kilograms.
Yang Chunyan placed the oil lamp on the wall of the pigpen and opened the fence door of the toilet. She saw a thick wooden board more than a foot wide placed horizontally on the toilet. She closed the fence door and placed a handful of split green bamboo strips vertically at the corner of the door for everyone to use after defecation.
As soon as the temperature rose a little, mosquitoes came out.
Especially after dark, when you go to the toilet and squat there for a while, the feeling is really hard to describe.
Yang Chunyan quickly finished the Five Grains Reincarnation and came out of the toilet. She heard Zhou Huaian shouting, "Chunyan, are you in the toilet?"
Yang Chunyan raised the kerosene lamp and saw him standing at the corner of the west wing. "Okay, do you want to go?"
Zhou Huaian nodded, "Wait for me here." He hurried to the door of the toilet, turned around and saw Yang Chunyan still standing there, and reminded her, "Don't leave, wait for me!"
Book friends, the contract has been signed, if you have money, feel free to spend it, cats are not afraid of pain! Haha!
(End of this chapter)
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