Reborn Soul: Me and My Family

The next day, the team leader invited three people from the village to help build a kang. When the house was built, they ate and lived at the Fan family. They all worked hard in the fields to earn work points. Ouyang Bai thought that his uncle and aunt would not accept the money, and might even say that he was too polite.

So when Ouyang Bai came, he brought his own rations with him. He took all kinds of canned meat and the bacon and sausages sent by Zhou Ma to the Fan family. Although Ouyang Bai didn't like to talk much, he still understood the basic ways of the world. Qiao Hongmei knew that Abai was a very good friend of her eldest son.

She certainly couldn't charge people for staying here for a while. Although the family had not yet been divided, the two daughters-in-law could not and dared not say anything. Although the eldest son was not at home all year round, he sent back a monthly allowance continuously.

Everyone in the family is aware of this. Both of his daughters-in-law were selected by himself. Although he sometimes has his own little thoughts, they are generally good.

My eldest son hasn't gotten married yet, and I'm anxious about it, but there's nothing I can do. My eldest son said he wanted to stay in the army for a few more years and not consider getting married for the time being.

Qiao Hongmei had no choice but to use the allowance he sent back and secretly save some money. In a few years, when her eldest son was old, it would probably be difficult for him to find a wife. At that time, the worst that could happen was that she would just spend a little more money.

She just didn't believe that she couldn't find a satisfactory wife for her eldest son. She dared to show the money openly even in front of her two daughters-in-law.

If any of them was not convinced, she would ask the other two sons to pay together. They would pay as much as the eldest son paid, and see who dared to say more. When the eldest son returned to the army, he repeatedly told him that when A-Bo was here, he must treat him well and help in any way he could. It was rare for the eldest son to ask her for a favor in all these years, so of course she had to do it for him.

I only have three sons and I haven't even seen the shadow of a granddaughter. My mother's family is full of boys. It seems that there is not much hope in this life. If A-bai's sister comes, if she is a good one, I will treat her as my own daughter. If they don't get along, I will not let them be bullied in the village for the sake of my eldest son.

Just for the things Ouyang Bai brought and the milk candies he brought from time to time, the two daughters-in-law of the Fan family would not say anything. They knew in their hearts that at least half of these good things brought by the third brother's comrades-in-arms went into their family's stomachs. The people invited by the team leader to help repair the house were all from the village.

We had discussed this before coming here. Even though meals were not included, we would still be paid an extra 5 cents a day to offset the cost of meals. Working in the village is close to home, so of course the villagers are happy to take the money.

A kang was set up in the morning, and at the lunch table, they drank the wine that Gu Yueze had bought specially at the supply and marketing cooperative when he came. Now several people were sitting at the table, drinking and chatting.

Fan Dayong picked up the bowl and took a sip of wine: "Abo! The kang should be ready by the evening. Find some dry firewood tomorrow and have everyone burn it for a few more days. Then the kang will be solid."

Ouyang Bai nodded and poured some wine for the men at the table. Everything in the house was almost ready, but the well had not been found yet. He didn't know anyone who could dig a well, so he took the opportunity to propose digging a well in the yard while eating.

Digging a well is not a trivial matter, and Qiao Hongmei felt it was completely unnecessary.

"Abai, don't look down on me for being blunt. Listen to me. It's so expensive to dig a well now. There's really no need to spend the money."

"Abai, since you want your uncle's help, I'll tell you directly. I understand that you love your sister, but there is really no need to dig a well. Look at our village, there are many households with more than ten people sharing one well. If you dig this well by yourself, it will be a big expense. You haven't even spent half of the money to build these houses.

You are walking around the village every day now, so you must be familiar with it! There are so many households in our brigade, but there are only three wells. If other families want to draw water from other wells, they must pay in installments or monthly.

In our village, more than half of the families still go to the river to fetch drinking water. It just takes some time, but you will get used to it after a while."

The two sons and two daughters-in-law of the Fan family were also shocked. They knew that the people in this city were rich, but they didn't expect that they could dig a well whenever they wanted. It turned out that there were still big differences between people.

You have to know that their family works in the fields every day, and by the end of the year, after deducting the family's food rations, the family can save less than 50 yuan for the whole year. What's more, there are three boys in the family, and their parents said that when they grow up, they must all go to school.

Among the three brothers in my family, only the third one is smart. He joined the army after junior high school. Now the third brother is an officer in the military region because he has read more books, is smart and capable. How could he have done this if he didn't have some education?

My parents are right. No matter how hard it is, I must let my son go to school. Wasn’t it because my father and uncle had studied for several years that they were elected by the villagers and became village cadres?

"Uncle and aunt, actually it was my family's idea to dig this well. Last time I told them about the past events at the educated youth camp, and the family discussed it before making the decision. The girls themselves don't have much strength, and sometimes they are afraid of accidents when they run to fetch water. If there is a well, they don't have to run to the river."

Fan Dayong tapped the old pipe in his hand on the table and took a deep puff: "Okay, since we have discussed it, I will find someone for you this afternoon, but the well in the yard has been dug.

If anyone wants to save trouble by fetching water there, you can ask your sister and the others to charge the same as the villagers. If anyone makes trouble, let them go to your aunt. Don't worry, we will definitely help if we can."

"Then I'll continue to trouble my uncle and aunt. When my sister and the others come, I will definitely ask them to come to your house to thank you properly," Ouyang Bai said with a smile.

"Why are you being so polite, kid? Even if it's just for you, your uncle and I will definitely help you."

"Aunt, I'm not being polite. If it weren't for your help recently, the house wouldn't have been fixed so quickly. It's only right that I come here to thank you."

The kang in the room was repaired, and Ouyang Bo and Gu Yueze went up the mountain the next day and picked up a lot of firewood. According to the captain's instructions, they kept adding firewood over the past few days until all three kangs were burned thoroughly.

Winter had already begun when the few people arrived, and firewood for the winter needed to be prepared in advance. The two of them cut some longer wood from the mountain.

At the far side of the kitchen, two people worked together to build an extra-large simple firewood shed. Both of them were very good at hands-on work, and they built this firewood shed according to the style of the team leader's home.

In winter, the kang needs to be heated every day, otherwise people can't stay in the house. I remember when I first came here, it took me a long time to adapt. The girls had never stayed in such a cold place, so the amount of dry firewood needed was not a small amount.

Ouyang Bai thought of Aunt Qiao at this time, "Aunt, you are locals and you know how much dry firewood is needed in a winter. Can you help me ask which family in the village is willing to help get some dry firewood? I can pay him according to the price of the commune, and I will find a way to get it if he wants it."

"Abai, you have asked the right person. There is an orphan family in our village. A child in his teens lives with his younger brothers and sisters. The three children are honest and well-behaved. If you buy firewood from them, it means you are indirectly helping their family.

I'll ask them whether they want food or money. I believe they will be very happy." Seeing that they agreed, Qiao Hongmei didn't care about anything else after she finished speaking. She dropped the work in her hands and hurried out.