Chapter 299 300: I'm looking forward to you
Yang Chunyan walked out of the yard and saw that the last piece of agarwood was also carried in by Zhou Huaian.
At this time, the man came out with a kettle, exchanged a few polite words with Zhou Yiding, and drove away on the tractor.
Zhou Yiding pointed to four large tree stumps in the yard and said to Zhou Huaian, "The agarwood, agarwood branches, and the cutting board and stump you asked for are all down for you."
Zhou Huaian touched the tree stump that was as big as a foot basin and said, "You are getting more and more capable! You have done so much work in just a few days!"
"I couldn't dig it out even after ten days of digging by myself. Uncle Yan and his friends went to cut wood, and I asked them to help me dig it up."
"No wonder. I'll give you whatever it costs."
"I bought a big Chongjiu." Zhou Yiding glanced at him and held out his hand, "If you want to give it to me, give it to me now!"
"Huh! Do you think I have no money in my pocket?" Zhou Huaian took out five dollars from his pocket and put it in his hand.
Zhou Yiding was dumbfounded when he saw the money in his hand. "Sister-in-law, why did you ask him to put so much money in it?"
Zhou Huaian looked very proud, "Is it reasonable for a man of the house to have two dimes in his pocket?"
Yang Chunyan smiled and said, "Yiding, this money is what we should give you. You helped me get so many things, I can't let you pay for it!"
These four wooden stakes, the two largest ones are bigger than the foot basin. I can't find them even after more than ten years. Even if I don't sell them, they will look good as tea tables.
Zhou Huaian took over the conversation, "Your sister-in-law is right! Brothers should settle accounts clearly. If you don't continue, it will be difficult for us to ask you for help in the future."
"Okay, I'll take it."
Yang Chunyan pointed at the agarwood and said, "Also, how much did you spend on the wood? I'll have Huai'an deliver it to you tomorrow."
"It cost a hundred dollars in total."
"Thank you!" Zhou Huaian patted his shoulder. "My family's millet can be harvested in three days at most. I'll help you when you start harvesting!"
Zhou Yiding smiled and said, "No need. My family only has a little over an acre of millet. My younger sister and I can harvest it in two days at most."
Zhou Huaian thought about it and said, "I'm going to deliver food to Ning'an tomorrow. Do you want to bring anything?"
"Just cut a piece of meat and bring it back." Zhou Yiding pointed at the things and said, "Do you want to leave it here, or take it back?"
"I'll leave it here with you. I'll come back to get it after I move to the new house." Zhou Huaian said, holding up a piece of agarwood. "We need to dry the millet tomorrow, so we need to clear the yard."
"Now you're really sensible!" Zhou Yiding smiled and carried the agarwood.
"screw you!"
Yang Chunyan and Zhou Xiaomei helped pick up the branches and brought them to the backyard and cleaned up the front yard before they said goodbye and went home.
…
The family was busy for another two days and brought all the millet home. A few days later, the family brought all the sorghum home.
Zhao Huifang and a few others still went up the mountain to pick mushrooms, while Yang Chunyan stayed at home to dry the millet and turn over the straw.
It was a fine day, and the straw that had been turned over and dried for several days now took on a golden color. The whole family spent two afternoons bringing all the straw home and piling it up behind the house.
The straw can be used to select seedlings, feed cattle, start fires, or weave straw mats and bed boards.
Whenever it rains and we have free time, we have to prepare to select the rice seedlings for tying up the rice seedlings next year.
Pull out two bundles of straw from the middle of the haystack, remove the outer skin, pinch off the knots at both ends, leaving the shiny part in the middle, which is a piece of rice straw with excellent toughness.
In the past, leather shops and fur companies on the station had to use straw as fuel to smoke hides, because the "grain fire" was hard and even, and the leather smoked out was ruddy and bright in color.
Station people often use straw to fumigate pests. Especially when planting onions, they sprinkle straw in the furrows to prevent and control pests, which is very effective.
After the millet has been exposed to the sun for two days, it is blown clean with a millet wind machine. After another two days of drying, it is completely dry and turns yellow. Take a grain and put it in your mouth and take a bite. It is crispy.
That afternoon, Yang Chunyan and her partner were harvesting sorghum in the yard. Zhou Datian took the grain tax booklet and walked into the yard. "It will be our brigade's turn to pay grain the day after tomorrow morning."
"Uncle Datian, come in and sit for a while." Zhou Huaian politely invited him to sit in the main hall, "How are the preparations for the election next spring going?"
"After you and the youngest came last time, I talked to Secretary Xu, and he also talked to Accountant Ye. The old guy promised Secretary Xu that he would not canvass for votes for the Xiong family."
Zhou Huaian asked in confusion: "Why does Accountant Ye want to help the Xiong family?"
Zhou Datian hesitated for a moment and whispered, "He helps the Xiong family mainly because the cripple in his family has a good relationship with the youngest Xiong. After Accountant Ye retires, he wants the cripple to take over so that he won't be bullied in the future, and a little salary can also support his wife."
After hearing this, Yang Chunyan thought of something and thought to herself: The lame man is not that bad. The Ye family is well off. If he had married a decent woman, life would have been easier. But he married a restless woman...
Zhou Huaian finally understood, "No wonder!"
Zhou Datian nodded and looked at Zhou Huaian. "Two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, we will pay the public grain. You can help a few families with less labor and a few military families to bring the grain to the grain station. The brigade will subsidize the fuel costs."
Zhou Huaian avoided answering and looked at him and said, "Uncle Datian, what do you think of my eldest brother?"
Zhou Datian understood what he meant. "Huairong is a kind and hard-working person, and he has always had a good reputation in the village. But I am more optimistic about you. If you have this idea, uncle can help you."
He was willing to be on good terms with the second branch, firstly because they were his family, and secondly because his family was loyal and had a good relationship with Secretary Xu's family.
"Me?" Zhou Huaian shook his head repeatedly. "Those people in the village don't even have time to dislike me, so why would they choose me?"
"A prodigal son who returns is more valuable than gold. You are now a role model for many people in the village. Even your aunt sometimes scolds my Xiaodong. Look at Huai'an, he used to be a slacker, but now..."
Zhou Huaian blushed and rubbed his arms, "Uncle Datian, please stop talking. My face is burning."
"Hahaha..." Zhou Datian said with a smile, "Really, think about it carefully. If you want to do it, this payment is your chance to show it."
Zhou Huaian said seriously: "Uncle Datian, I can't sit still. It would be better for me to have someone like my eldest brother as the team leader." He didn't want to be tied down by a team leader and not be able to move freely.
"You!" Zhou Datian smiled and nodded at him a few times, "Then tell Huairong that you will come to see me."
"Okay! Regardless of whether it works or not, as long as there are families willing to vote for our two families, I will take care of transporting the grain to the grain station to pay the public grain tax. All you have to do is reimburse me for the gas."
Zhou Datian patted his shoulder with satisfaction and said, "I'll let them know when I get back."
"Yes, Uncle Datian, take care." Zhou Huaian politely escorted him out of the yard and watched him walk away before turning back.
"Huaian, my brother said the other day that he is not cut out for this. Can you force him to do something?"
"It's possible!" Zhou Huaian pulled up the drying mat and gathered the sorghum seeds together. "Brother knows everything, but he just doesn't like to talk about it. You see, since the construction of the house started, he has managed the things on the construction site in an orderly manner."
"Yes, we are the ones who have the easiest time repairing the house this time." Yang Chunyan put the sorghum into the basket and looked at the time. "It's already half past five. You should drive the tractor to haul sand."
Zhou Huaian picked up the sorghum and poured it into the mixing bucket on the steps. "Take your time to collect the mushrooms. I'll come back to help you."
(End of this chapter)
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