Just as everyone felt their lives were incredibly happy and blissful, the county suddenly assigned a work group to Hongxin Brigade.
"What work group? Aren't those things from many years ago?" Grandma Su asked curiously while eating.
It had been so many years since anyone had seen a work group, why did one suddenly appear now?
With outsiders coming to their well-run brigade, life was likely to become difficult.
Su Shouwen shoveled rice into his mouth, saying, "It's because of the flood last year, and the meteorological department predicted heavy rains again this autumn. So, the county arranged a work group to have us rebuild the river embankment. The county issued instructions requiring all communes along the river to take it seriously. The river channel behind our brigade has been assigned to our brigade by the commune."
"There's no need for a work group to come for this," Grandma Su still didn't understand.
"Who says so? But they're arriving this afternoon, seven people in total, and the brigade leader asked me to arrange a place for them to stay."
Su Shouwen was actually quite troubled by this.
Arranging accommodation was not easy; every household was short of space.
Furthermore, not only did they need to arrange lodging, but also meals. No household was suitable.
This task was assigned to the commune, which then distributed it to each production brigade.
After a moment of distress, Su Shouwen added, "Fortunately, they aren't staying and eating for free; they will provide grain and money."
"Your Aunt Taohua has many rooms, and Xiaomei is currently living at the chicken farm. There are only two people at home, so the conditions are quite good," said Su Laosan, after thinking.
"People often say that a widow's gate attracts many troubles. The work group is likely all men, and it wouldn't be good for them to stay at Taohua's place," Grandma Su said anxiously, fearing Su Shouwen might actually arrange it this way.
Since Li Changming was arrested, Taohua's life, though manageable, was far from good. If she could earn some money, it would be excellent.
What a pity...
Su Taohua had many rooms, but she was a woman without a man.
Although she had a son, he was just a child and couldn't handle matters. If the men from the work group were to stay there, many incidents might arise.
Su Shouwen, hearing his grandmother's words, deeply agreed.
If any bad rumors were to spread, it would be a fatal blow to Aunt Taohua.
Although the people in the brigade were kind, gossip was never in short supply. Su Shouwen did not want Aunt Taohua to become the center of rumors.
Never mind, he would think of another way. There were so many people in the brigade; there had to be a way to accommodate these people.
"Why don't you go ask your Uncle Zhuzi later? His family is small, and their house is decent. You could arrange for a few people to stay there, and they could earn some money," suggested Su Laoda.
"Zhuzi's family has three rooms, and they don't have any children now, so they could accommodate them," Grandpa Su also strongly agreed.
Since getting married, Li Zhuzi had become more thrifty. Working together as a couple, they had indeed managed to improve their lives.
"Dad, you're right. I'll go to Uncle Zhuzi's place after I finish eating!"
Su Shouwen clearly thought this was an excellent suggestion. He ate quickly and then went out after finishing.
It was originally a small matter, and the people of the Su family just mentioned it casually during dinner.
Su Xiaotian thought for a long time but couldn't recall any work group coming to Hongxin Brigade in her previous life.
She guessed that this was a change from her previous life, but she didn't know if this change was good or bad.
She would take it one step at a time.
In this life, some things were the same as in her previous life, but some were completely different.
Now that nothing had happened, Su Xiaotian was too lazy to think about it further.
In Su Xiaotian's opinion, she might as well spend this time continuing to study and earn money and ration coupons.
Her diligent studying every day was not in vain. Besides acquiring a lot of knowledge, she now earned over two yuan and many ration coupons daily.
This was a significant income, so Su Xiaotian valued the income from reading even more.
If it weren't for the system's rule of a ten-hour reading task per day, she would have wished to read and earn money for twenty-four hours.
In the afternoon, when Su Xiaotian was playing with Chi Yiyuan in the cowshed, she heard news that the work group members were indeed staying at Su Taohua's home.
At the same time, Grandma Su also heard this news from her grandson.
When she heard the news, Grandma Su was quite surprised and clearly very disapproving.
She actually felt that even if the brigade had such an idea, Su Taohua should not agree.
"Why did they end up staying at Taohua's place? Did your Aunt Taohua agree?"
"At Uncle Zhuzi's place, his wife is pregnant and has severe morning sickness, causing a lot of trouble. Uncle Zhuzi said it's fine just to stay, but the work group members also need someone to help cook. He's a man and can't manage it."
Su Shouwen was writing and drawing in a notebook, answering casually.
"Later, the brigade leader remembered Aunt Taohua and went to ask her. Aunt Taohua agreed."
Grandma Su sighed. Well, it was decided, so be it!
Since Taohua herself agreed, what else could she say?
As the grandmother and grandson were talking, Su Taohua came in.
"Xiaotian!" Su Taohua called out to Su Xiaotian as soon as she entered.
"Xiaotian went out to play. I don't know if she went up the mountain with her brothers."
Just as Grandma Su finished speaking, Su Shouwen greeted Su Taohua and then hurried away.
"Taohua, why did you agree to let those people stay in your yard?" Grandma Su asked with concern.
"Auntie, I know what you're worried about. It's just that our brigade doesn't have any other place to arrange."
The people of Hongxin Brigade were not wealthy, and housing was very tight in every household. Not to mention, even in the old Su family, seven or eight grandchildren squeezed onto one kang.
"Why did you agree? Aren't you afraid of people gossiping behind your back?" Grandma Su said with concern.
"I've thought about it. I'll live at the chicken farm during this period, and Xiaogang can stay at home."
The brigade leader also agreed to this condition, otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to rashly agree to let several men stay in her house.
Su Taohua found a small stool herself and sat under a tree in the yard, as comfortable as if she were in her own home.
"Aren't you worried about Xiaogang living alone?"
Grandma Su still frowned. She always felt that it wasn't very comfortable to have others living in her home.
"It's fine. I asked Xiaogang, and he said it's okay. He's not mischievous anymore and has become much more sensible," Su Taohua said, her tone tinged with sadness.
After all, Xiaogang used to be a carefree child, but now he was forced to grow up.
"The brigade leader told me they would stay for a month and give me five yuan. If I help cook, they'll give me another five yuan, plus some grain coupons."
Su Taohua thought very clearly. Ten yuan and grain coupons were not a small amount.
Anyway, she didn't have to do much, just tidy up the house and cook for them every day.
This kind of work was not a big deal for a rural woman!
But ten yuan was very important for her family.
She had decided that both her children should study further, which required saving money.
"You're right."
"If other families could accommodate so many people, I wouldn't have missed this opportunity," Su Taohua said with a faint smile.
However, there was a hint of self-deprecation in her words. Grandma Su understood but could only pretend not to.
"You child..." Grandma Su said reproachfully, "I don't know what the character of these people who are coming is like."
If they weren't good people, the brigade would be restless again.
Su Xiaoqin's troubles caused people to come to the brigade every few days, disturbing the entire brigade.
Especially in the cowshed, not even a bite of food could be left unattended.
"Whether they are good or not, it doesn't matter much. If you can interact, talk more; if you can't, talk less."
Su Taohua was quite open-minded. Anyway, in their Hongxin Brigade, those people wouldn't dare to bully her.
Grandma Su thought about it and realized it was true. As long as Taohua didn't live in the same yard, she supposed there wouldn't be any trouble.
"Taohua, you called out Xiaotian as soon as you came in. What's the matter?" Grandma Su remembered Su Taohua calling Su Xiaotian's name when she entered and asked.
"You didn't ask, and I almost forgot. Since I had some free time, I made a pair of shoes for Xiaotian."
As Su Taohua spoke, she actually took out a pair of shoes from her cloth bag. The uppers were made of red velvet with black borders, exquisitely crafted, and the style was very petite and cute.
"Oh my, the color of this red velvet is so bright. You can hardly see such a beautiful color these days."
"Auntie, you're right. I thought this was an old item from many years ago. I seem to have made a pair of shoes like this for Xiaomei when she was little."
"You have such good things; it would be great to make shoes for Xiaomei. Xiaomei is grown up now and should be getting married in the next couple of years," Grandma Su immediately complained.
Such a color would look good as a pair of shoes when Xiaomei gets married. It's a waste to make them for a child like Xiaotian.
"I did think about making them for Xiaomei, but with just this little bit of shoe material, after comparing it back and forth, it wasn't enough to make shoes for Xiaomei. So, I thought of making a pair for Xiaotian," Su Taohua was also a grateful person.
She knew very well that her son could join the army thanks to the people of the old Su family. Xiaomei could work at the chicken farm because the old Su family spoke to the brigade leader on her behalf.
Xiaomei recently said that the children of the old Su family had helped her a lot when she was studying.
Their lives were difficult, and the fact that they had come this far was truly thanks to the old Su family.
She was not the type of person who would claim victimhood due to poverty or weakness. She just wanted to repay them with all her heart to feel better.
Grandma Su, after hearing this, no longer refused. After all, she could help Taohua a little when the opportunity arose.
After a few words, Su Taohua said she had to go back and tidy up the house.
Grandma Su quickly said, "Coincidentally, Manxiu sent some food a few days ago. I was just planning to send it to you. You can take it with you."
Su Taohua quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, Auntie. You've already taken care of me so much; I feel embarrassed. Besides, life isn't unbearable now. Keep what Manxiu brought for yourself to supplement your health."
In the end, she didn't accept the candy and eggs Grandma Su offered. Su Taohua was still quite troubled by the matter of hosting outsiders.
What if those people were picky?
Although they were provided with grain and money, what if they were too picky, and her home couldn't provide anything good for them to eat, causing trouble?
"Mom, don't worry. We'll give them whatever food our family has. I heard from Aunt Da that the brigade leader arranged to subsidize five eggs for the work group every day," Su Xiaomei said while helping to tidy the room.
Su Taohua, upon hearing that they would receive five eggs daily, finally felt relieved.
In this place, even with ration coupons, it wasn't easy to buy anything good.
"Seven people to feed, and our family's grain won't be enough. I think I'll have to talk to the brigade leader again to see if we need to subsidize some fine grains for the work group," Su Taohua thought of this important issue again.
"The brigade leader said it's good enough to subsidize eggs; there probably won't be any fine grains."
The brigade leader had said that they would eat what the farming families ate, to avoid causing trouble over a meal.
He also said that since the work group members were coming to the countryside, they should eat the same meals as the farming families and share the hardships with the brigade members.
Mother and daughter tidied up as they talked. Su Taohua was usually a diligent person, and her home was quite clean. After a bit of tidying, she really made the house spotless.
"Mom, our house is quite spacious," Su Xiaomei said with a smile. "These two large kangs alone can sleep quite a few people."
"Are you thinking that people will always be coming to our house to stay?" Su Taohua glared at her.
If life hadn't been so difficult, she would have been very unwilling to have unrelated people living in her home.
The house was built by her father when he got married. Initially, it had a thatched roof. Later, when the family's conditions improved, they renovated it to its current state.
Later, when she married a live-in son-in-law, she had lived here ever since.
Recalling these past events, Su Taohua couldn't help but remember the love her parents had for her when they were alive.
The family had no sons, but her parents had a good relationship and treated their three daughters very well.
It could be said that this house held her most profound memories of her parents.
If this house had no trace of Li Changming's presence, it might have been better for her.
But in front of her daughter, she couldn't say that.
However, she had long decided that she must guard this house left to her by her parents well and hold onto this root.
As soon as they finished tidying up, they heard the brigade leader's voice already in the yard.
Mother and daughter hurried out and indeed saw the brigade leader and Su Shouwen bringing several strangers standing in the yard.
"Taohua, these are comrades from the work group. This is Comrade Li, this is Comrade Ma, this is Comrade Zhao, this is Comrade Zhang, this is Young Comrade Zhang, this is Comrade Luo, and this is Comrade Qian."
Su Taohua had a good memory and remembered everyone's titles after hearing them only once. She smiled and greeted the work group members.
The youngest member of the work group was Young Comrade Zhang, a young man in his twenties with a baby face and a smile, who looked very likable.
Even Su Taohua couldn't help but feel a bit more fond of this young man.
However, she didn't focus too much on this young man but turned her gaze to Comrade Li.
She guessed that Comrade Li, introduced first by the brigade leader, was the person in charge of this work group.
This meant that in the future, she might need to liaise with this Comrade Li for many matters. She wondered if he was a difficult person, and with this thought, she couldn't help but look at him more closely.
He looked to be in his forties, with fair skin and glasses, unlike the rough men in the countryside.
He wore a neat cadre uniform with four pockets, and a golden pen was clipped in his pocket, making him look scholarly and refined.
As Su Taohua looked at him, he was also scrutinizing the house, his brows slightly furrowed, and she didn't know if he looked down on the place.
For some reason, Su Taohua felt that although this person looked harmless, he made her uncomfortable.
His eyes were different from those of the brigade members.
"Comrades, please rest for a while. I'll go boil water for you to drink. Brigade leader, please entertain the comrades first. These two rooms have been cleared for the comrades, and the kangs have been tidied up."
Su Taohua pointed to the main house.
This was where she used to live, the largest and best room in the house. This time, it had been vacated to accommodate the work group members.
"This is the main house; why have you cleared it out for us?" Comrade Li asked curiously.
"To make it more comfortable for the comrades, I'll stay elsewhere for these days."
Young Comrade Zhang said sheepishly, "How can we accept this? We're only staying for a few days, and you have to move out of your home."
"The main house is large and has good lighting, suitable for the comrades to work in."
After saying this, Su Taohua didn't want to talk to them further. She pulled Su Xiaomei, gesturing for her to follow her to boil water.
However, Su Xiaomei was attracted by Young Comrade Zhang.
A girl of sixteen or seventeen, she was at the age of budding romance. She was used to seeing the rough men in the brigade, and suddenly seeing such a tender and handsome young man, her heart was involuntarily drawn to him.
Su Taohua also urged her to leave because she saw her daughter constantly looking at Young Comrade Zhang.
Young Comrade Zhang, however, was completely unaware that the little girl with two large braids was secretly looking at him.
He put his luggage on the ground, stretched, and said, "This journey was really not easy. I'm exhausted!"
"It's just the beginning, you can't be exhausted already!" someone teased Young Comrade Zhang.
"That's right, you're the youngest among us, you can't be the first to say you're exhausted!"
After a few casual remarks, the atmosphere became much more relaxed, not as oppressive as before.
But it was evident that they were all tired.
Su Changjiu was not unobservant. He quickly greeted them, saying, "Comrades, you've worked hard on your journey. Please settle down, unpack your bedding, and have some hot water later."
Su Changjiu greeted them, but in his mind, he thought that while Taohua's place was good, it was inconvenient without a man to host.