"Why the runaround? Why won't you let electricity come to my house? None of you greedy bastards are any good!" Widow Liu immediately started cursing when she heard everyone’s words.
"I say, Widow Liu, you were the one who said you didn't want to pay, and you didn't let the wires go through your house, so how can you be so shameless as to blame others?" someone in the crowd, unable to stand it, retorted.
Widow Liu choked, her neck stiff, and said, "I was just saying it, did you really take me seriously?"
Hearing her words, Zhang Changhe asked, "Then do you agree to have electricity connected and have your work points deducted at the end of the year?"
Widow Liu pursed her lips and said sulkily, "If everyone else gets it, it's no good if my house is left out."
Seeing that Widow Liu had caused a scene and ended up with this result, Old Mrs. Chen wisely kept quiet.
However, Zhang Chunhua, standing beside her, had taken in what Chen Li Shu had just said. The fact that she had even offered to pay extra money – what did that signify? It meant she definitely had money on hand.
Thinking about the changes in Chen Man Tun's family over the past two years, not only had they built a new house, but the children who had reached the age to go to school were sent to school. Especially the second daughter, Chen Li Yuan, who went to study in town. Given the incompetent nature of Chen Man Tun and his wife, Chen Li Shu must have been the one pulling the strings.
With this thought, Zhang Chunhua glanced at Chen Man Tun and his wife not far away, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes.
She turned and whispered a few words to Chen Man Cang. Chen Man Cang nodded incessantly, and the two quickly reached an agreement.
"Mom, Bao Zhu's wife is pregnant again. The family will have more and more children from now on, and the current house may not be enough. Besides, this leaky earth house leaks rain when it rains. I don't know how long it can last."
Zhang Chunhua said seemingly inadvertently after returning from the production team.
Chen Man Cang sighed, "Don't say anything more. It's all my fault for being incapable, causing my mother and son to not be able to live in a spacious brick house."
Old Mrs. Chen was stunned when he mentioned the brick house. She had never imagined that she would live in a brick house in her lifetime.
She was already halfway to the grave, so it didn't matter what she lived in, but her eldest grandson and great-grandson couldn't.
"I've saved a little here. If you need money to build a house, take it." The money she had saved was the filial piety money given by Chen Man Tun and his wife. Although it wasn't much, it could help a little.
Chen Man Cang knew exactly how much money Old Mrs. Chen had. Hearing her words, he looked troubled, "Mom, the money I and Chunhua have was mostly used for the children's weddings. Your little bit of money can't do much. Combined, we can only build an adobe house like the second child's."
When Old Mrs. Chen heard him mention Chen Man Tun, her half-drooping eyelids moved.
...
Since the meeting to discuss the electricity connection that day, the production team had acted quickly. Within two days, they began organizing manpower to prepare for tree felling.
The felled trees belonged to the collective, but the branches could be taken by the commune members.
At that time, there was no coal in the countryside. Heating in winter relied entirely on firewood and branches. A large tree, with its canopy dried, could yield a lot of firewood. Therefore, as soon as the notice was received, each household began to prepare. The men went to fell trees, and the women and children followed to help gather branches.
The weather was too hot, and Chen Li Shu was afraid of being burned by the sun. She specifically wrapped a silk scarf around her head, covering herself tightly. Gu Xing Dong saw her attire and immediately laughed, "You don't look like you're going to work, more like you're going to steal."
Chen Li Shu glanced at him, "Laugh all you want. When I'm as tanned as the other women in the village, you'll be surprised."
Gu Xing Dong stepped forward, bent down, and pecked her on the cheek, "It's okay, black or white, as long as it's you, I love it."
"Third sister-in-law, are you ready?" Gu Xing Ping burst in carelessly. Upon seeing her third brother kissing her sister-in-law, she let out a little cry of surprise and turned away with a blush.
Gu Xing Dong straightened up and walked out as if nothing had happened, "Remember to knock next time you come in."
"I-I know," Gu Xing Ping stammered. Seeing him leave, she turned to look at Chen Li Shu. When she saw her attire, she burst out laughing.
"You think it's too much too?"
Gu Xing Ping smiled and shook her head, then thought for a moment and said, "It's just that your style is quite unique."
It was common for village women to wear headscarves while working, but seeing Chen Li Shu's appearance suddenly struck her as amusing.
Chen Li Shu heard her words, thought for a moment, and finally took off the scarf.
Soon, the family followed everyone else to the mountain.
"Big sister!"
The younger Chen children were all delighted to see Chen Li Shu and ran over happily. Seeing Gu Xing Dong beside her, they obediently called out, "Brother-in-law."
Gu Xing Dong's gaze fell on Chen Li Zi, who was not yet up to his knees. He bent down and picked her up from the ground, teasing her with a smile, "What can you do tagging along when you're this small?"
Chen Li Zi became anxious, her little brows furrowed, and said, "I-I'll pick up trees."
Gu Xing Dong immediately chuckled and tapped her little nose, saying, "Our Li Zi is really capable."
Soon, most of the people had arrived, and everyone began to get busy.
By the end of the day, most of the trees had been felled. The strenuous labor tired not only the men but also the women, who could barely straighten their backs. Only the children, who were running around疯, were still full of energy.
Although tired, the results were significant. Looking at the pile of branches in the yard that was almost a small mountain, the whole family felt gratified.
Dinner was made by Zhang Xiao Ju after she got off work from the supply and marketing cooperative. It was boiled noodles. Chen Li Shu, having not done manual labor for a long time, her stamina was severely lacking. She didn't eat much at dinner and returned to her room.
When Gu Xing Dong came in, he found her lying on the kang, groaning. He stepped forward with a smile, "Why are you groaning like a little pig?"
Chen Li Shu couldn't help but kick him, "Stop talking nonsense."
Having also worked all day, Gu Xing Dong seemed as if nothing had happened. The difference in stamina between people was indeed extraordinary.
Gu Xing Dong seized her calf, "Let me rub it for you, or it will hurt even more tomorrow."
As Gu Xing Dong applied pressure with his hands, Chen Li Shu felt a dull ache in her calf, but after the pain, it felt very comfortable. Gradually, sleepiness crept in, and she unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
...
"Mom, why have you come over?"
Wu Chun Mei was washing clothes at home. Seeing Old Mrs. Chen enter, she smiled and stood up.
Old Mrs. Chen glared at her and said grumpily, "What, this is my own son's house, and I can't come?"
Wu Chun Mei's smile froze. Chen Man Tun, who came out to greet her, quickly said, "Mom, your daughter-in-law didn't mean it like that."
Old Mrs. Chen impatiently waved her hand, signaling Chen Man Tun and his wife to go inside.
Once inside the house, Old Mrs. Chen suddenly said, "I'm getting old, and I don't have many days left to live."
Chen Man Tun became anxious upon hearing this and quickly responded, "Mom, look how healthy you are. Your daughter-in-law and I haven't had a chance to properly show you our filial piety yet."
Old Mrs. Chen lifted her eyelids, looked at Wu Chun Mei with a forced smile, and said, "You haven't even left an heir, so what can I expect from you?"
Wu Chun Mei, having been touched upon a painful spot, mumbled and dared not speak.
Seeing that she had stirred up enough emotion, Old Mrs. Chen then said, "In our old Chen family, Bao Zhu is the only descendant. Now that his wife is pregnant again, and the house is getting old, your eldest brother and his wife are discussing building a brick house."
Upon hearing that Chen Man Cang and his wife were building a brick house, Chen Man Tun genuinely felt happy for them, "This is great news. Have they decided on the start date? I'll go over and help."
Old Mrs. Chen couldn't stand his cluelessness. Suppressing her anger, she said, "Your eldest brother's family is a bit short on funds for building the house. See how much money you have and give it all out."