Chapter 65: Comprehensive
In late autumn, the river water is cool and fewer people come to the river to bathe. Now more people boil water at home and take a bath with hot water.
If you are not careful when taking a cold shower, you may catch a cold. Medical treatment is expensive, and there are people who have died from a fever or a cold. Unless you have a very good physical condition, no one would be willing to take the risk of taking a cold shower.
Especially for children, hot water is a must in this kind of weather.
The black ash was difficult to clean, so Lin Qi asked the water plants to help her wash her clothes and body, but it still couldn't be completely cleaned.
"Lin Qi——"
Xu Hexiao waved to Lin Qi on the shore, "Come here, I have some soap."
In the past, he was too lazy to buy soap from Brother Tan, because it was too conspicuous. But after he had her in his heart, he bought it for fear that she would need it. In addition to soap, he also bought a set of girls' clothes from Brother Tan, from inside to outside, even shoes and socks. When buying these, he didn't tell Lin Qi, just thinking about giving it to her when she needed it. If she didn't need it, he would never tell her.
Unexpectedly, he just bought it a few days ago and it came in handy today.
Xu Hexiao had a secret expectation in his heart.
Lin Qi walked towards Xu Hexiao step by step, her wet clothes sticking to her body, revealing the girl's curves.
In fact, there is not much difference between it and boys.
It's quite flat front and back.
But Xu Hexiao's face inexplicably became hot. He looked away and handed her the soap, "Wash with this."
Lin Qi's eyes lit up, "I just need this."
Lin Qi took the soap and rubbed it directly on her head, clothes, and exposed skin. After rubbing her whole body, she returned the soap to Xu Hexiao.
Then she continued to scrub, and only went back into the water after making sure it was almost done.
"The river water is cold, don't wash for too long." Xu Hexiao reminded her.
Lin Qi hummed and soon disappeared.
About ten minutes later, Lin Qi came out of the water again. Her skin had returned to its clean, fair, and snow-white appearance.
"I brought clothes, shoes and socks. You stand on that stone and change your wet clothes." Xu Hexiao said. He not only prepared clothes, but also a piece of cloth that she could change in.
Lin Qi was stunned and looked at him in surprise, "You're so well prepared?"
Xu Hexiao's face got even hotter, and he turned his face away. "It's cold now, and I don't want you to wear wet clothes."
Such straightforward concern touched Lin Qi's heart, and it was like a small flame ignited there.
"Then help me hold the cloth so I can change my clothes." Lin Qi said. She didn't even tell Xu Hexiao not to look at her, because she knew that Xu Hexiao would definitely not look at her.
The boy's emotions were passionate and pure, and even if he wanted to do something, he would definitely ask for her opinion.
Xu Hexiao really didn't look at it. He turned his head to the side and closed his eyes. He could hear the rustling sound of her changing clothes. He tried his best to stay calm, but his face and ears were out of control. They were hot and almost cooked.
Lin Qi changed her clothes quickly. When she sat aside to put on her shoes and socks, Xu Hexiao quickly picked up her wet clothes and shoes and socks, took the soap and the cloth, and ran towards the rocks by the water.
"I'll help you wash your clothes. Just wait a moment, it'll be done soon." Xu Hexiao said without raising his head.
Lin Qi's hands paused as she was putting on her socks, and she felt a rare sense of embarrassment.
Is it inappropriate for unmarried men and women to help each other wash clothes like this?
But I’ve already washed it once, so it shouldn’t be a problem to wash it again, right?
Lin Qi did not stop Xu Hexiao. After putting on her shoes and socks, she sat on the stone and waited for him. Xu Hexiao moved quickly. After washing his clothes, shoes and socks, he wrapped them with cloth and tied a knot.
"Let's go." Xu Hexiao said, with no intention of giving the wet clothes to Lin Qi.
Lin Qi didn't ask and walked ahead silently.
When the two returned to the cowshed, Old Man Xu had already set the table and prepared the food.
It was already completely dark. The kerosene lamp had a lampshade, so it was not afraid of the night wind, but the three people eating there felt a little cold.
"The temperature difference between day and night has become bigger. It seems that next time we can only eat in the cowshed." Old Man Xu sighed.
"Wait until my house is built, then we can eat there." Lin Qi said.
Old Man Xu smiled and said, "If you don't mind, we won't be polite."
Lin Qi picked up the bowl and said, "I don't mind. You and Ah He can come here every day."
Old man Xu smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed. It seemed that there was hope for his grandson to get married.
The more Old Man Xu looked at Lin Qi, the more satisfied he felt. He moved a large bowl of meat in front of Lin Qi and said, "Eat it. This was sent from the canteen. They said the captain ordered it."
"I can reach it, no need to move it." Lin Qi pushed the pot full of meat to the center of the table.
Old man Xu picked up a piece of meat with a smile and said, "The chef in the cafeteria is a good cook. He makes it taste better than mine."
Lin Qi also took a bite and gave a positive comment, "It's delicious."
Xu Hexiao had a wooden face. When he cooked for her yesterday, she didn't say it was delicious. It seemed that his cooking skills were not good enough.
Xu Hexiao savored the pot of meat carefully, intending to taste what was added to it from the flavor of the meat, so that he could put some of it in the next time he cooked it.
"Eat some vegetables, don't just eat meat. Besides, there is more than one dish of meat. You only pick this one to eat. Do you think your grandfather's cooking is not tasty?" Old man Xu frowned.
"Of course not." Xu Hexiao denied it quickly, "I'm just curious about how they made it, so I can make it for Qiqi next time."
I accidentally said what was in my heart.
Xu Hexiao's face turned red again.
Lin Qi also felt a little uncomfortable, and her eyes were wandering.
Old man Xu pretended to be sad, "Oh, you keep talking about Qiqi, have you ever thought about me as your grandpa? Have you learned not to cook for me?"
Xu Hexiao was silent. He really didn’t expect his grandfather.
Old Man Xu was really sad now, "Alas, you have a wife and you forget about me——"
Two days later, Lin Qi's house was completed.
Not only was the house built, but the gaps in the wall were also sealed with stones and yellow mud.
"Originally we had to choose a good day for the roof capping, but now that's not the trend, so we won't do it." The captain said, standing outside the door and looking inside through the window, "The off-white tarpaulin on the roof is a good choice. This color makes the house much brighter."
The off-white oilcloth was bought by Xu Hexiao and Brother Tan. When the team members learned about the oilcloth, they were envious.
Originally, only two rooms were planned to be built in the house, but there were too many people helping with the construction, and too many mud bricks and other things were made. In the end, five rooms were built, with a hall in the middle, two side rooms on both sides, and a separate bathroom at the back of the house.
"With so many rooms, it's no problem to raise seven or eight children." Aunt Tao said, looking at Lin Qi eagerly, "I heard from the captain that you will be seventeen after the Chinese New Year. Isn't it time to meet someone?"
"Yes, yes, it's time to take a look. This house is so big and the conditions are among the best in our Anliang Brigade. You can pick whoever you like." Another aunt also said.
Although the others didn't say anything, they looked at Lin Qi eagerly.
"I won't get married before I'm 20, so don't worry about me." Lin Qi said seriously, and changed the subject, "Does Anliang Brigade have a saying of bridal wine?"
"There used to be, but not in recent years. Building a house requires spending all of our savings and getting into debt, so where would we get the spare money to hold a banquet?" the captain sighed.
"Then I'll organize one, and the whole team will come, as a token of gratitude for everyone's help over the past few days."
The news that Lin Qi was going to hold a wedding banquet spread throughout the Anliang Brigade in less than half an hour. The entire Anliang Brigade was in an uproar, and the atmosphere was even more festive than during the Spring Festival.
That’s Lin Qi. If she’s going to hold a banquet, there will definitely be no shortage of meat!
"There must be wild boar meat at the banquet!"
“Chicken and rabbit meat won’t be missing either!”
"Sparrows, rat meat, I don't mind it!"
"I don't know if there is any fish. I haven't eaten fish for a while, and I am craving for it."
“.......”
When the team members gathered together to guess the food at the banquet, the captain and the deputy captain were discussing the banquet with Lin Qi.
The captain said: "You don't have tables, chairs or benches here, so let everyone bring them from home."
The deputy captain said, "I'm not worried about meat, but as for staple food, do you have enough food here? With so many people, they need a lot to eat."
Lin Qi: "I plan to buy staple food, I should be able to get everything."
The two captains thought of the fact that Lin Qi had just received a sum of money and a stack of bills, and nodded, "Just keep it in mind."
Lin Qi: "On the day of the banquet, I would like to invite two chefs from the canteen to come and cook."
Captain: "You can use them as you like. They will definitely be happy to do so."
Lin Qi hired someone and paid him well. Only a fool would be unhappy.
Deputy Captain: "In addition to the two masters, people from the brigade will also come to help on the day of the banquet. Don't worry, we won't let you work alone."
Lin Qi nodded, "The house needs to be aired out, and I'll tentatively schedule the banquet for ten days later."
Only after Lin Qi sent the captain and others away did Xu Hexiao come out from the corner.
"I'll buy the food." Xu Hexiao said.
"Okay." Lin Qi counted the bills and gave them to Xu Hexiao.
"No, I have it." Xu Hexiao refused.
"Take it. Don't buy any more gold bars. It's best not to take this thing out. It's not safe." Lin Qi said.
"I'm not selling gold bars. Have you forgotten that every time I help you sell things, you give me one tenth of the profit. This time I sold wolf skins for you and made a few hundred dollars." Xu Hexiao said.
Lin Qi thought so too and simply kept the money.
"You have too much cash on you now. Why don't you deposit it in the bank and earn interest every month," Xu Hexiao suggested.
Lin Qi had no concept of saving money. There was no currency in the apocalypse. She had been here for more than a year and had only just become rich. For the moment, she had not thought about saving money.
However, after Xu Hexiao reminded her, she also felt it necessary to save money.
"I'm going to town tomorrow to save money, sell grain, and buy two water jars." Lin Qi said.
"The water tank is heavy, go borrow an ox cart from the captain." Xu Hexiao did not mention going with her. With his status, it was not convenient for him to leave the Anliang Brigade.
"That's what I planned." Lin Qi said.
The next morning, Lin Qi went to the team leader to borrow an ox cart. When the team leader learned that she wanted to buy water tanks and food, he readily agreed.
"Let Aliang's father go with you. When you go shopping, ask him to help you watch the car." said the captain.
"His house burned down, shouldn't he be busy repairing it now?" Lin Qi was puzzled.
"It doesn't cost one more day to repair the house. You helped a lot on the day the fire was put out, and their family was wondering how to thank you. Now that we have this opportunity, it's just right." said the captain.
Lin Qi no longer refused, "Okay then."
Aliang's father was a man of few words and had a rather dull personality. Lin Qi was also not a talkative person, and the two of them hardly spoke during the entire journey from Anliang Brigade to the town.
"Please wait here. I'll go buy some things first. After I'm done, I'll come over and help you pull the ox cart over." Lin Qi said.
Aliang's father nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I'll wait here."
Lin Qi first went to the bank. After coming to Anliang Brigade, the money she had earned added up to more than three thousand yuan. She planned to save an integer, three thousand.
When choosing the savings period, Lin Qi thought about it and chose five years. The interest rate for five years is high, and she will continue to make money, so she should not be short of money.
After leaving the bank, Lin Qi went directly to the supply and marketing cooperative. She spent all her food coupons on food and bought some daily necessities, including a large iron pot.
Finally, she went to buy a big water tank.
The water tanks were large and heavy, weighing dozens of kilograms each. Lin Qi lifted them up one in each hand and carried them all the way to the street before putting them down.
This scared the salesperson nearby. Where did this girl with super powers come from?
"Please keep an eye on it for me. I'll go and get the ox cart over." Lin Qi said to the salesperson.
The salesperson nodded and said, "Go ahead and do it."
Now that you have shown this skill, who would dare to touch your things?
Aliang's father was sitting on the shaft of the cart. When he saw Lin Qi coming, he immediately stood up and asked, "Have you bought it?"
"Okay, I've bought it." Lin Qi agreed. Seeing blisters on the corners of Aliang's father's mouth, she wondered if it was caused by the dry weather or because he was too anxious about the house.
The man pulled the ox cart and followed Lin Qi closely. He didn't dare to look around. His tattered clothes and empty pockets made him feel inferior and uneasy.
Lin Qi seemed not to notice his embarrassment. She kept walking forward without looking back until she reached the two water tanks, where she stopped.
The ox cart was covered with thick straw and equipped with straw ropes to fix the water tank.
Liang's father wanted to put the water tanks on the car with Lin Qi, but before he could even open his mouth, Lin Qi carried the water tanks to the car, one in each hand, and asked, "Uncle Luo, can you tie them?"
"Yes, I will."
After tying up the water tank, Lin Qi asked Aliang's father to wait for a while. She turned and walked into the state-owned restaurant next door. When she came out, she had two large oilcloth bags in her arms. She handed one to Aliang's father, "Yours."
Aliang's father didn't take it, so Lin Qi stuffed it into his arms and said, "Eat it, it's my treat. If you don't want to eat it, I'd be embarrassed to eat it myself."
Aliang's father had no choice but to accept it. He held the cow rope in one hand and the big oilcloth bag in the other, his eyes sore. So many things, it was obvious that they were not bought for him alone, but for his family as well.
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