"We haven't negotiated the master's wages yet. He wants to come and see how we're going to renovate our house first. But I asked around, and the average price for a kang is three hundred coins, not including materials."
"We can discuss the details when we meet tomorrow. The tiles I bought today are all in stock, and the price is a little higher, 1.5 cents per tile. I bought 500 tiles here so we can use them as a last resort. We can't sleep together all day. I'll go to the nearby brick kiln later. I heard it's cheaper there."
Every night when going to bed, the female family members were fine. There were only Ji Changying, Hu and Zhou.
There were seven men squeezed together on the men's side, making it difficult to turn over.
Now that he has a house, Ji Fengshou really doesn't want to put himself in a difficult position anymore.
As soon as I entered the city today, I found Gou'er and asked him to take me to negotiate the price with the tile seller.
After hearing what he said, Ji Fengyi looked at him with great satisfaction: "Unconsciously, you have grown up and know how to plan for the family. I am very pleased for you."
Ji Fengshou bared his teeth and said, "Don't worry! From now on, I'll take care of all the chores at home. Just follow me and enjoy the good life!"
Ji Fengyi smiled and said, "I'll wait."
Ji Changying looked at him speechless.
How old is her father? The uncle can actually express such emotion! He is really a brother!
Ji Mingxue's lips were curled up behind his ears. Even if his uncle farted, his father would still smell good!
I don't even know who the biological child is...
Ji Mingxuan nudged him with his arm and said, "Watch your expression."
Ji Mingxue quickly put on a serious face and continued to look at the scene of brotherly love and filial piety in front of him with an expressionless face.
A night passed and before dawn, the house repairman hurried over with his two sons driving a ox cart.
Because everyone in the family had to work, they all got up early, and when Master Zheng and the others arrived, they just happened to have breakfast.
"Hurry up and sit down and eat first!"
Mrs. Hu warmly invited the father and his two sons to sit down quickly.
Master Zheng waved his hand and refused: "We had already eaten when we came here, you guys eat first, we will look around the house!"
Master Zheng's weather-beaten face was full of seriousness and he was a little stern.
But he looked very serious. After greeting Ji Fengshou's family, he asked his son behind him to bring the tools. The three of them walked around the yard with the tools, measuring the length and width from time to time.
I checked the roof and wall again.
Ji Fengshou finished his meal in a few bites, then deftly rolled up three pancakes and took them to find Master Zheng.
"We always have to eat something when we get home. Let's eat and talk. Does my wall need to be completely renovated?"
Ji Fengshou's face was full of enthusiasm. He handed a roll to each person, looking as if no one could refuse.
Master Zheng hesitated for a moment and then took it. Seeing this, his two sons hurriedly took it.
"Boss, although your house is a little worn, you can tell that the original materials used were indeed good. It's just that no one has lived here for a long time, and the house has lost its human scent, so it's easy to become weak."
Human? That's a fresh word!
Under the death stares of Ji Fengyi and Ji Mingxuan, Ji Mingxue, Ji Minghao and Ji Changchuan moved forward with their bowls in hand.
I'd like to hear what you have to say.
"Look at us country folk. Who doesn't live in their house for decades? But houses that are unoccupied deteriorate very quickly. Even the best house will collapse if you leave it unoccupied for more than a decade."
As Master Zheng spoke, he stretched out his hand and placed it on the courtyard wall on one side. With a slight force, the wall shook.
Frightened, Ji Fengshou quickly told them to retreat.
"This won't do! It's a bit scary. Do we need to tear down the house and rebuild it?"
Master Zheng pondered for a moment, "There's nothing wrong with the main structure of the house. Just reinforce the courtyard wall, repair the roof, and re-build the kang in the room."
"No problem, we'll do it the way you say!" Ji Fengshou is a man who listens to advice.
He was not afraid to spend money on the house, he just wanted to make it comfortable in one go.
If the village chief knew that he was squandering so much, he might come to collect the debt.
After dinner, Ji Changying did not stay idle. She talked to Master Zheng about her ideas about the house. For example, she felt that the current windows were not big enough and wanted to make them wider.
For example, she wants Master Zheng and others to divide the yard into areas with stones or bricks, so that it will be easier for her to grow crops in the future.
Master Zheng listened to her request and told his son to write it down.
They don't need to write to remember, they just scribble and write symbols that they can understand.
The next step was to discuss wages. Master Zheng and Ji Fengshou finally agreed that they would eat and live at Ji's house during this period, with three meals a day provided for them. The wages would be 180 wen a day, and the kang fee would be 200 wen per bed.
As for how Master Zheng and his two sons divide the wages, he doesn't care.
Ji Fengshou originally wanted to take Ji Shilin and his two brothers to the mountain to make charcoal, but before they even left the house, Master Zheng came over. He pointed at the circles and crosses he had drawn on the ground and told Ji Fengshou, "Boss! I just calculated that there aren't enough tiles and bricks."
This was serious business, so Ji Fengshou had to give up his plan to go to the mountain. "I'll buy as many as you need. Do you know which one has better quality?"
Master Zheng spoke without hesitation: "There is a brick kiln not far from here. The tiles and bricks there are of good quality. If the boss doesn't trust you, you can go to the one in the city..."
Seeing that they were busy talking, Ji Changying said hello and took Ji Shilin and the others to continue going to the mountain to burn charcoal.
When they arrived at the same place as yesterday, Ji Changying taught them step by step how to select wood, what temperature to burn in the kiln, how long to wait before opening the furnace, etc.
When the three brothers Ji Shilin heard Ji Changying speak, they hurriedly covered their ears and ran to the side.
She was stunned: "What's wrong?"
Ji Shilin, a 5'8" tall man, stood there, feeling helpless: "No! This is your family's craft, how can you just pass it on to others?"
Ji Changying laughed: "This doesn't require any technical skills. Even if I don't tell you, you will learn it after making it a few times. I have other things to do and don't have time to keep making charcoal here. I am counting on you to help my father here! If you don't learn, how can you help me when the time comes?"
Ji Shishan said earnestly: "You are young and naive. How can you tell others such things casually? This won't work. I can't let you suffer any loss!"
"That's right! I won't learn it!"
The three brothers had the same expression, waving their hands in refusal with a firm look on their faces.
He was even worried about what Ji Changying would say next, so he quickly took the axe and went to chop down the tree.
Ji Changying knew that they meant well and did not force them.
It's just that when burning charcoal, I always say out loud every step of the process 'accidentally'.
Within half a day, Ji Shilin's face was filled with confusion and guilt.
He didn't want to, so how did he learn it?
Seeing that it was almost done, Ji Changying smiled and said, "I have something to do and need to go home. I'll leave this place to you uncles."
Ji Shitou said solemnly: "Don't worry, leave this to us!"
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