Early the next morning, the big iron bell tied with a rope on the big locust tree at the entrance of the village was rung. This was the work call, and usually the members would gather together when they heard it and hold a small meeting. The big team leader would assign work, and the team leader would lead everyone to go to work.

But today the members were not called together to start work immediately, but to help Meng Jinniu build a new courtyard house. While the members had not yet gathered, Captain Bao asked the team leaders to stay where they were, and he and the accountant came to Meng's house first to see the preparations.

The big pot of food had been prepared in the Feng family's yard. Steamed buns made of two-grain flour, rice, millet soup, potatoes stewed with bacon, stir-fried Chinese cabbage, and salted radish fried with oil residue gave off an enticing aroma. The portions were large enough to ensure that the members were well fed and could take their lunch with them.

Captain Bao and the accountant were amazed: this food standard is better than during the Chinese New Year, and the Meng family is the only family in the village willing to provide such food.

Meng Changshou took the initiative to discuss the house-building matter with Captain Bao. He was the elder of the Meng family, and he often helped others build new houses in Liuzhuang. He knew all the things that should be paid attention to in this regard, so he made the decision. Jinniu and Meng Tao could only watch him talk from the side.

After discussing with Meng Changshou, Captain Bao left and went to the big locust tree at the entrance of the village to assign tasks to the members.

A small number of members stayed at home to dig the foundation, while most of them went up the mountain to carry wood. It was too late to cut stones on the spot, so they bought them from quarries in other villages. There was plenty of sand by the river, and tiles were purchased from brick kilns in other communes... All these were handed over to tractor driver Lin Dagang. Time was tight, and one tractor was not enough, so they hired another tractor from another village. The two tractors transported stones, mud, and tiles at the same time. Of course, all the expenses were paid by the Meng family themselves.

After Captain Bao gave his instructions, everyone rushed to the Feng family's yard to have breakfast. After breakfast, they took their lunch with them and went back to their respective work.

Shen Yu, Meng Zhehan, Zhang Guoqing, Liu Jianli and Xu Yuting also followed the group into the mountains. It wasn't because they were eager to help, but because they were curious about what the depths of Daqing Mountain looked like and wanted to take a look.

Meng Tao also wanted to go with them, but several grandparents were there, and there was a lot of housework to do, such as cleaning up the house inside and outside, and washing clothes in the river. It was very time-consuming, so she couldn't leave.

The cooking was assigned to Aunt Feng and others, and Meng Tao couldn't just sit there and do nothing, so she had to check on him often; Lin Dagang was transporting stones, mud, etc., so he had to come to get money and reconcile accounts at any time, and there were other expenses. Meng Tao put a sum of money in Jinniu's hands and asked him to learn how to deal with the expenses. Jinniu had never managed money before and had never seen such a large sum of money. He was very panicked at the beginning, and was so busy that he either counted too much money or gave too little. Meng Tao had to guide and watch him from the side, and slowly he got used to it.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. The power of the masses is great. It only took three days, not only enough wood was carried, but the foundation of the house was also dug and laid with stones. They began to prepare to tamp the mud walls. Team leader Bao said that they would go all out and try to tamp the mud walls in a week, because the beginning of spring would be in a few days and the rainy season would follow, so they had to hurry to put up the beams and cover the tiles. Other things such as doors, windows, walls, and leveling the yard could be done slowly.

After laying the foundation, on the 16th day of the first lunar month, Meng Changshou took Meng Jinshan back to Naliang Commune. He was worried about his family after being away for so many days. As the spring plowing was approaching, he had to hurry back to earn work points. Even though he was 70 years old, he could still earn eight work points a day in the production team.

The grandparents and grandchildren came to the banquet and gave red envelopes to each other. Meng Tao had to return the favor and gave Meng Changshou two pounds of smoked meat, a bag of noodles and a bag of candy. Meng Jinshan gave Meng Jinshan a new canvas schoolbag containing a pen and several new exercise books.

There was no extra food delivered. The Meng family in Liuzhuang was still headed by Geng Liuju. The old woman with a strong desire for control would take it all away, and Meng Jinshan could not eat much.

Meng Changshou had nothing to say about his own gift, but he was not satisfied with the gift given to Meng Jinshan. He complained that Meng Tao was stingy: "What's the point of giving you a schoolbag? You can't eat or drink with it."

Meng Tao just let him talk without any explanation.

Meng Jinshan happily carried his new schoolbag and said to Meng Changshou, "You don't understand!"

I won't say much else. Meng Changshou was so angry that he picked up his pipe and chased after them: "They are all rebelling and don't take me, their grandfather, seriously! " Meng Zhehan wanted to drive the grandparents home, but Meng Tao didn't let him.

If those elite people in the old Meng family in Liuzhuang see Meng Changshou and Meng Jinshan riding in a car back home, they will think that Meng Jinniu has become rich. Then they will come and make trouble every few days, and they will be annoyed to death by them. I am afraid that Jinniu’s new house will not be completed smoothly.

Liu Yongsheng also felt that the Meng family in Linshui Village and the old Meng family in Liuzhuang should just maintain their current status.

Finally, they hired a bullock cart from the team to send the grandparents and grandchildren back to Naliang Commune.

She immediately asked Aunt Xu to pack her luggage. Before leaving, Grandma Xu held Meng Tao's hand and said, "Good child, I can't bear to leave you. Come back to the capital with me, okay?"

Aunt Xu also said, "I see that you need to review your lessons every night before going to bed. There are so many junior high school and high school textbooks on the table in your room. If you love studying, you should go back to Beijing. Aunt will help you find a tutor. We can go to college while taking tutoring, and it won't delay your marriage."

Meng Tao smiled and said, "Thank you, grandma and aunt, I don't want to go to the capital yet."

Grandma Xu asked, "Are you worried about Brother Jinniu? Brother Jinniu has recovered well, just arrange for someone to take good care of him."

"No, it's my own fault. I still have things to do."

"Oh, these are just small things. Everyone can complete them without you. Don't worry about them." Grandma Xu thought she was worried about the work in the production team.

Grandpa Xu supported Meng Tao: "If you don't want to go, then don't go. Just follow your own ideas. Shen Yu is still in Province D, so there's no rush."

Seeing that she couldn't take Meng Tao with her, Grandma Xu had to give up and told Meng Tao to take care of herself and not to try to handle things on her own. She should tell Shen Yu, or call or telegram her grandpa directly.

Meng Tao nodded in agreement.

Grandpa Xu was leaving, so Liu Yongsheng, the young soldier back then, naturally had to leave with him. After a few days away, Grandma Liu and Grandma Xu began to miss home, and Xu Yuting and Liu Jicheng were getting ready to go back to school.

A group of people surrounded Meng Tao and Jinniu, giving them a series of instructions.

Meng Zhehan had already prepared return gifts for everyone. Although they were rustic, they were also very festive and no one disliked them.

In view of the fact that several elderly people are in poor physical condition and have their own illnesses, and the warming temperature in spring is also a season when diseases are more prevalent, just in case, Meng Tao discussed with Shen Yu and took out several precious pills bought from the Chinese medicine shop in the provincial capital. They were placed in the Yunhai space for nourishment for such a long time. The medicinal effect has increased many times. He gave them to Shen Yu and he would accompany Grandpa Xu and others back to the provincial capital. After arriving in the provincial capital, he would give two pills to each elderly person as special medicine he found, and let them carry them with them as life-saving pills to deal with sudden illness.

Meng Zhehan and Zhang Guoqing followed him back to the provincial capital as their college was about to start.

Shen Yu was reluctant to leave every time, and he especially didn't want to leave this time. He told Meng Tao not to be lazy, and as long as it didn't rain, she should go to the commune post office more often and call him, otherwise he would be restless.

If he didn't receive a call from Meng Tao for more than three days, he would immediately take leave and rush back from the provincial capital.

Meng Tao was speechless: This request is a bit unreasonable. If there is thunder and heavy rain for three consecutive days, does she have to run to the commune in the thunder and rain to make a phone call?

But when she met Shen Yu's eyes, under that earnest and fiery gaze that seemed to be able to melt people, she could only agree meekly and obediently without a single objection.

(End of this chapter)