Jinniu was a little embarrassed. He blushed and stammered, "I-I have no money. My legs are not healed yet, so I can't work. I rely on my sister for everything... I have a plan. When I can walk again, I will work in the production team. In my spare time, I will slowly save wood, stones, sand, and mud bricks. It will take at most two years to build a new courtyard house."

Meng Tao said, "Brother Jinniu, you didn't rely on me, you relied on our grandfather. I was too stupid at that time and used all the money that grandfather left for me to build a house for the Tian family. Now I have recovered it. You are grandfather's grandson, so you should get a share."

Jinniu waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, that is the dowry money grandpa gave to me, I can't take it. You gave me the money to treat my illness, I remember it, when I get better, I will earn money for you in the future."

Meng Tao was helpless: "Brother, I've told you many times, don't keep thinking about this, okay? If you insist on dividing yours and mine, wait until I get married and go to someone else's house, then you can say whatever you want. Now, you and I are still a family, eating from the same pot, and we can't divide it. Ask Uncle Bao, is that right?"

Captain Bao nodded, "That's right. Since Jinniu has been adopted by Uncle Meng Shengli, he is the grandson of this family. To be more serious, Jinniu is the male grandson and he is the head of the family. It is reasonable for this courtyard to be in Jinniu's name. But Uncle Meng designated this courtyard to be left to Taohua before he died. We all heard it in person, so it is not good to go against his wishes. Therefore, Jinniu has to build a new courtyard house. The foundation was originally dug by Uncle Meng, which is also a family business. Taohua and Jinniu are siblings who are dividing up the family. Taohua occupies the old courtyard house. It is right for Taohua to give some money and things to her brother if she has the conditions. After all, Jinniu will be responsible for carrying on the incense and worshiping the ancestors for this family in the future."

Taurus: "...I know all this, and I should do it. But I, I can't take away a girl's things. She has done enough for me."

Meng Tao: "Brother, let's follow the old rules and listen to Captain Bao's arrangements. If we are too clear about the differences between brothers and sisters, it will become alienated. Life is so long, who can predict what will happen to me in the future? What if I don't live well in my husband's family? Can you still ignore me?"

Jin Niu hurriedly said, "That's impossible! If Shen Yu treats you badly, you must tell me, and I will take you home and support you!"

"Puchi!" Someone next to him laughed. It was Xu Yuting.

He interrupted with a smile: "Brother Jinniu is right, Xiaohuahua, don't be afraid, I will graduate and get a salary in another year and a half, and I will support you too!"

Liu Jianli patted his chest and said, "Xiao Huahua, I, your brother, will make sure that I raise you to be plump and white!"

Shen Yu shot a wave of cold eyes at them: Dream on, do you need to support my wife? Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu sat side by side, their expressions were gentle and calm, but their eyes were full of smiles.

Liu Yongsheng scolded: "We are in a meeting, why are you two arguing? It's unruly! Either shut up or get out!"

Xu Yuting and Liu Jicheng immediately fell silent and lowered their heads to continue playing chess.

There was no secret in this family meeting and it was not held in private, so Shen Yu, Meng Zhehan, Meng Changshou, Liu Yongsheng, Xu Yuting and Liu Jicheng all sat nearby and listened.

Meng Changshou coughed twice and said to Jinniu, "Your sister is sensible. No matter what happens in her husband's family in the future, her family is her face. You are her brother, so you have to support her and make decisions for her. If she gives you some of her family property, you can afford it."

Captain Bao nodded: "Mr. Meng is right, that's the truth."

Meng Tao said: "The new courtyard house will have to be built sooner or later, so let's take advantage of this time. With the help of the members, there is strength in numbers. We will start preparing materials tomorrow. One tractor is not enough in our village, so let's see if we can borrow two from the neighboring village to transport bricks and tiles together. I will pay for it."

Jinniu was stunned for a moment: "Want to buy bricks and tiles? Sister, we don't need to spend that money, we can just build a mud wall and cover the roof with thatch."

Meng Tao: "If you use thatch, you have to replace the roof every other year, which is very troublesome. It is better to use bricks and tiles."

"But how much will that cost?"

"Don't worry, we have the money. Have you forgotten that Zhang Fu and I are doing that in the county..."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Jinniu suddenly started to cough violently, waving his hands at Meng Tao. He knew that Meng Tao and Zhang Fu were in the wine business, which was speculation and profiteering. If others knew about it, it would be a disaster, so he signaled Meng Tao not to say anything.

Meng Tao stopped talking and smiled with her lips pursed.

Team leader Bao said, "How about this, we don't need bricks anymore. The rammed earth walls are very solid, and covered with green tiles, it will be a very good house in the village, very respectable, and it will be easy for Jinniu to find a partner in the future. As for the wood, we can mobilize the members to go into the mountains and carry it back. It will be enough in two or three days. But we have to spend money to buy tiles, nails and the like, and the workers have to eat three meals a day, and we have to pay some wages for the carpentry work."

Meng Tao thought that she could build a brick wall, which wouldn't cost much money, but when she saw Meng Jinniu looking at her eagerly, she understood what he was thinking: Jinniu is a man after all, and if something is not created through his own efforts, it will be useless no matter how good it is!

Take your time. It is now 1975. The solid mud walls and tiled roof are indeed good houses in the countryside. If such houses are well maintained, they are comfortable to live in. They are warm in winter and cool in summer, and can be lived in for decades without breaking down. By the 1990s, most houses in rural areas will be rebuilt. I believe that by then, Brother Jinniu will be able to build a small Western-style house.

The matter of building the courtyard house was basically agreed upon. Captain Bao had something busy tomorrow, so he went home to rest first.

Meng Changshou said to Jinniu, "I will be back tomorrow. If you want to build a new courtyard house, you should ask your uncles and brothers from Liuzhuang to come and help. This way, your relatives will have a place to stay when they come to visit you in the future."

Jinniu shook his head, "Grandpa, you heard it just now. Everything is arranged by the team leader. There are many members in the team, so there is no need to bother them to come. They have to work in the spring and earn work points. Besides, they have nowhere to live. Grandpa went back and told my grandmother that I promised her that if she wanted to live with me after the courtyard house was built, I would take her in. If she didn't want to, I would support her. I would let her know how much rice she should give me every month and repay her for raising me for twenty years.

But Geng's relatives, don't come around anymore. I don't recognize Geng Caiyue. I'd rather die a hundred times than marry her! And Meng Laifu's family, don't come either. My legs were broken by Meng Laifu. He took my life away. I don't owe him anything. I've already paid him back."

Meng Changshou moved his mouth and said, "It's all your grandma's fault. It's your grandma's fault. Don't worry, I'm here and I will never let you marry Geng Caiyue. As for your dad...he gave birth to you and raised you, so don't blame him, okay?"

Taurus' eyes turned red: "How can I not blame him? Did he give birth to me just to beat me to death? Why did he give birth to me? I didn't ask him to give birth to me. This is how it is between him and me. It's better not to see each other. We'll be strangers if we meet!"

Meng Changshou: “…” He didn’t know what to say.

After living in Linshui Village for a few days, Meng Changshou saw that his grandson had completely changed. He was very different from before. He had his own ideas and was not easily persuaded.

His grandson Meng Jinshan told him: This is because Brother Jinniu can read and write. He can not only read picture books, but also big books. He also listens to the radio every day. The announcers on the radio tell many stories and truths. Brother Jinniu is now very educated.

Meng Changshou lived for seventy years and was illiterate, but he understood some principles.

He knew that Jinniu was really blessed when he was adopted by the Meng family in Linshui Village. Taohua married the son of an official in the city, so Jinniu was his brother-in-law. He met noble people every day and his horizons were broadened. He was no longer the honest and simple Meng Lao San who was easily bullied. If the people of the Meng family in Liuzhuang wanted to benefit from Jinniu, they had to take it slow, speak nicely, and not push too hard, otherwise Jinniu would learn from Taohua and turn his back on them, and then they would get nothing!

The grandparents and grandchildren were talking, and it was not appropriate for others to listen, so they all went away to do their own things.

Meng Tao had previously arranged for Meng Jinshan to light a fire and boil water in the kitchen. She went to the kitchen to take a look and told Meng Jinshan that after the water boiled, the children should not move around. She could go and call brother Meng Zhehan, brother Shen Yu, or brother Xu Yuting or Liu Jianli, and ask them to come over to fill a few thermos bottles, add cold water and continue to light the fire. She would come back soon and add herbs to boil for everyone to soak their feet.

Meng Jinshan agreed obediently.

Meng Tao went back into the house, took a flashlight and went out. Shen Yu saw her and followed her out. Meng Tao took him down the stone steps on the right side of the courtyard gate and arrived at the home of their right neighbor Aunt Feng, which was about seventy or eighty meters away.

The Feng family's yard is very spacious. Aunt Feng and her two daughters-in-law are all efficient. They keep the front and back rooms clean and tidy. There is a large gourd rack in the middle of the yard, which is hung with gourds every year. Now there are several large, khaki dried gourds hanging on it. They are already dry and can be used to hold wine.

The gourd seeds in Meng Tao's space were obtained from her home. They grew and mutated in the space. When they matured and dried, they turned golden. The golden color was very dazzling. Meng Tao didn't dare to take it out, for she was worried that people would mistake it for real gold and it would be troublesome if thieves wanted to rob it.

Meng Tao went to discuss cooking with Aunt Feng. Team leader Bao acted decisively and said that they would organize the members to go into the mountains to carry wood tomorrow, so they would have to cook for them. There were guests in the Meng family's courtyard, so they couldn't make room, so they temporarily borrowed Aunt Feng's kitchen and yard. Aunt Feng was a good cook, and she had participated in the engagement banquet, so they simply gave the job to her. She would get rice and grain every day to cook for everyone. If they borrowed someone else's kitchen, they would have to provide food and drink for the whole family, and then they would give them some compensation later.

Aunt Feng was very happy to see Meng Tao and her new son-in-law visiting her home. She warmly invited them to sit in the main hall. After hearing Meng Tao's intention, she immediately agreed and took Meng Tao's hand and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, Jinniu is building a new courtyard house. I'm too old to go into the mountains to carry wood, but cooking is no problem. I'll take care of it, so I can contribute my part!"

"That's great! Thank you, Auntie."

"Don't be polite. A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. We are neighbors, and that's all we can do at this moment."

(End of this chapter)