Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

The decoration master hired by the street office is very professional. Even though the Central Courtyard is so busy, he just turned a deaf ear to it.

The partition wall in the room has been built, and the two rooms have been changed into three rooms, one living room and dining room, and two bedrooms. The kitchen is simple, with a coal stove, and you can cook at your doorstep.

Then we had to scrape the whitewashed concrete and build a cement floor, which were very good conditions at the time.

With 36 legs, it would look more like a home.

"Guozheng, you're here. I'll get you a stool."

"Aunt Xu, stop busying yourself, we'll just stand there for a while and then leave."

No one could stop her. Xu's mother Li Jinzhi went back to the house, moved four stools, and then moved out a square table and moved it directly into Dabao's room.

"Aunt Xu, have some candy."

Liu Guozheng took out a handful of candy from his pocket and put it on the table.

"Guo Zheng, what kind of candy is this? I have never seen it before. I won't be polite then."

The candies in Liu Guozheng's pocket are a mix of fruit candies, milk candies and soft candies. Especially the soft candies, which come in a variety of colors and look crystal clear.

Mother Xu ate a piece of gummy candy. It was soft and sticky, with the right hardness and sweetness. She liked it right away.

The third child asked in confusion: "Aunt Xu, have you never eaten milk candy and soft candy?"

“Should I have eaten?”

Xu's mother was also stunned. Why would the third child ask this?

"Aunt Xu, Damao always brings some back from the village. I thought you've eaten it?"

"Da Mao brought some, they are all hard candies like fruit candies."

After hearing what Xu's mother said, Liu Guozheng and others understood that Xu Damao had never brought milk candy and soft candy home.

Looking at the expressions of Liu Guozheng and the others, Xu's mother seemed to understand, and cursed in her heart: Xu Damao is such a rebellious son, he has such a good thing and I don't know who he gave it to. I will settle the score with him when he comes back one day.

After sitting for a while, they felt a little cold, so Xu's mother went home and brought over her own coal stove, placing it in the middle. Then they sat around the stove, eating candy and chatting.

"Liu Guozheng."

Suddenly a familiar voice was heard.

When I turned around, I saw that it was the little brat who had sent me two letters.

Liu Guozheng waved to the little kid: "Come here, kid."

"What? You want to buy me some candy?"

The little guy was not stage-shy. He walked over and stared at the colorful candies on the table.

"Good boy, do you live in this courtyard?"

"No, I'm here to have fun with someone."

"Shouldn't we be in school at this time?"

"Hmph, I want you to take care of it."

When he heard about going to school, the child's face changed immediately. He turned around and was about to leave. Before leaving, he looked at the candies on the table reluctantly.

"This kid really has personality."

The child looked back every few steps, feeling reluctant to leave. He wanted to come back, but was also embarrassed.

"Alas, I can't finish this candy. It would be a pity to throw it away."

"Don't throw it, give it to me."

The child ran back again.

"Hahaha"

"Liu Guozheng, stop laughing. Just tell me whether you will give it to me or not."

"Take it yourself. Take as much as you want."

"really?"

"Can I still lie to you, little brat?"

"That's not necessarily true. Adults lie a lot."

"I never lie to children, only to adults."

"It's wrong to lie to people, even adults."

"You are right. You can take it without any worries."

Finally the child took three candies, one of each kind, said thank you, and ran away happily.

"Aunt Xu, do you know this child?"

"I know her. She's from Zhang Qingfang's family next door. She has a younger sister. She's a smart kid. What a pity."

"what happened?"

"Zhang Qingfang has a lame leg, and no one wants her to sweep the streets. She can only take jobs pasting matchboxes at the street office. She works day and night, but can only eat half full. Gangdan, the boy just now, usually walks around the streets picking up waste and selling it to supplement the family income."

"Yes, children from poor families grow up early."

"There's no other way I could have done it if I didn't become the head of the household earlier. It's all because of life."

"You can't make much money from making matchboxes, right? Didn't you apply for a subsidy from the street office?"

"Zhang Qingfang is a strong-willed person, so she doesn't want to."

"Ok."

What else can Liu Guozheng say? Nothing. Say something inspiring? Say some so-called chicken soup for the soul? In this society, people like Zhang Guafu are everywhere. Everyone has their own persistence. Although they are at the bottom of society, they have hope in their hearts and write their own chapters of life with every drop of sweat.

Xu's mother tried to ask, "Guozheng, I have something to say. Are you hiring? A salesperson?"

"Why? Aunt Xu doesn't want to stay idle at home?"

"No one wants to stay at home idle, there is no other way."

"Aunt Xu, salespeople need to be able to count."

"Guo Zheng, arithmetic within 100 is still no problem."

"Okay, let's wait until Dabao's house is renovated."

"No, Guozheng, I'm not talking about me."

"what?"

"I'm talking about Zhang Qingfang. If you're hiring, could you give her priority?"

"this..."

Liu Guozheng really didn't expect that Xu's mother actually had a compassionate heart, which was inconsistent with her character on TV.

"Brother Zheng, Aunt Xu's suggestion is very good. Why don't we find two people? In this way, we can go back home for the New Year without delaying the sale. Besides, Yushui will be on vacation soon, so we can just let her do the accounting then."

Lou Xiao'e always felt it was a pity that Liu Guozheng said that the store would close when he returned to the village on the Little New Year, as the remaining time would be the peak purchasing period.

"Brother Zheng, Xiao'e's suggestion is good."

Of course Chen Xiaolan agreed. If she really found two people, they would probably not have to take turns staying in the city in the future.

"Yes, Brother Zheng, you can consider it."

Not to mention the third brother, he has long wanted to go back to the village because it is so comfortable there.

"Yushui will follow us back to the village during the holidays."

“Brother Zheng, you don’t understand this. I bet Yu Shui will definitely wait for Xiao Hao to go back together.”

Well, Liu Guozheng forgot about this. In this case, it’s not impossible to recruit two people.

"Aunt Xu, how about this? Tomorrow morning, you take Zhang Qingfang to the office for an interview. If possible, keep her."

"Guozheng, I thank you on behalf of Qingfang."

Xu's mother was very excited. Zhang Qingfang was one of the few people who could chat with her, so she was naturally happy to be able to help an old friend.

"Okay, Aunt Xu, that's it for today. I'll have to trouble you again for lunch."

"Guozheng, don't worry, I will definitely make it beautiful for you."

"I would like to thank Aunt Xu first."

"It's Auntie who wants to thank you."

"Okay, let's not thank each other here. I'll have someone send the ingredients over later."

"it is good."

When they left, they gave each decorator another box of cigarettes. The four of them thanked the decorators repeatedly and walked out of the backyard.