Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

At this time, the two masters had finished their discussion and came over.

Master Li said, "Boss, we just discussed it. For now, if we don't count the new house on the vacant land, the cost for labor and materials is 240 yuan. The materials must be of guaranteed quality and quantity. We can't destroy our own reputation, right? Also, your job is a big one. It's impossible for just the two of us to do it. We need to bring two apprentices each. If we want to speed up the progress, we can bring more people, but the cost will be higher. In addition, you have to provide us with a meal at noon. If we don't go home for lunch, we can do more work."

"Also, it would be best for the owner to hire someone to dig the ditch for the water pipe, and coordinate with the surrounding neighbors to avoid trouble. We can do this job, but it is pure physical labor and it would not be cost-effective for you if we do it, right?" Master Zhao also interjected.

"Okay. From what you two masters said, I can tell that you are both honest people. I'll pay you three hundred yuan and you two can add more people to speed up the process. We'll try to finish it before the New Year and move in. I'll prepay two hundred yuan for the materials." Xu Damao pretended to walk into the house, but actually took out twenty big black notes and the documents issued by the street office from the space and handed them over.

Master Li took it and counted it. "Okay, then we'll go get the materials first and start working as soon as possible. It's just that in this winter, a lot of work needs to be done indoors, and the stove needs to be lit all the time, so we need to prepare more coal briquettes."

"Okay, we have plenty of coal briquettes at home, feel free to use them. If you need anything, we can communicate with you in time."

The two masters said hello and left in a hurry, probably to gather people and buy materials.

After listening to the conversation, the third uncle was moved. This is a good opportunity. We still have three boys at home.

"Da Mao, I think it's better to let the boys in my family do the ditch digging. You know that Jie Cheng and Jiefang didn't have a formal job after graduating from junior high school, and they rely on odd jobs to make money. Jie Kuang can also help with the work after school, and your third aunt can cook a meal for us at noon." After saying that, he looked at Xu Damao with anticipation, as if to say, look, our whole family has joined the battle, you have to give us some benefits.

"Okay, Third Uncle, I think it would be better if I could entrust you to be a supervisor and accountant. After the work starts, you can often come to the backyard to help me monitor the progress. If there is anything, you can communicate more with the neighbors in our compound. After all, the renovation masters are not familiar with the people in our compound. I won't let you work for nothing and just give you fifty cents a day."

The third uncle's eyes lit up after hearing this. Fifty cents a day is fifteen yuan a month, which is almost half of his monthly salary. He must take advantage of this. "Okay, why are you being so polite to your third uncle? Just say hello if you have anything to say."

"Okay, Uncle Third, then let your boys come over to help with the work. The two older ones will get fifty cents each, and Aunt Third and your third child will give fifty cents together. Just ask Aunt Third to cook a meal for the chefs at noon, and your family don't have to cook separately, just eat together. Also, since they are all doing heavy work, make sure there is a meat dish," Xu Damao arranged.

The third uncle was so happy when he heard this that he said, "Okay, I'll arrange it when I get back. Let them dig the ditch tomorrow." But in his heart, he was thinking that he had made a lot of money this time. It's true that you can't be poor if you don't plan well. If I just calculated it a little, wouldn't my family have so much more income? I can also save a meal. If I can't finish it at noon, won't the leftovers belong to my family?

"Well, Third Uncle, I'll give you fifty yuan and some food coupons, meat coupons and so on. You can ask Third Aunt to buy some vegetables, and then just keep a record of your daily expenses. I'll come to check on you occasionally, and if you don't have enough money, just ask me for it." After Xu Damao finished speaking, he took out five big black tens and a handful of bills from his pocket.

"Since you trust your third uncle so much, I certainly can't do a sloppy job. I'm good at bookkeeping, so leave it to me. I promise to keep the accounts clearly without any mistakes." The third uncle Yan Bugui took the money and tickets and patted his chest to guarantee.

"Okay, let's do this for now. I have to go back and pack my things." Xu Damao said.

"Then Damao, I'll go back and talk to your third aunt first." Yan Bugui hummed a little tune, put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly towards the front yard.

Xu Damao watched the third uncle's back disappear in the central courtyard. This third uncle just loved to take advantage of small things, but he was never careless when it came to big things. He was always calculating and calculating, and even the family affection was weakened by his calculations. In his old age, he ended up with no one to take care of him.

In fact, the Third Uncle's family is not as poor as he said. Yan Bugui has always said that his salary is 27.5 yuan, but Xu Damao doesn't believe it. If it is really the salary he said, his family definitely meets the standard of a poor household. How can the Third Uncle resist taking advantage of something that could be taken advantage of?

Maybe when the work grades were first divided, Uncle San's salary was indeed 27.5 yuan, but after so many years, Uncle San must have been promoted, right? Adding seniority salary and subsidies, Uncle San's monthly salary is definitely not small. Not to mention that Uncle San often went fishing to earn money to supplement his family expenses, and later he bought big items such as a TV.

Xu Damao also wanted to help the third uncle. He might be used to calculating and couldn't change. He wasn't that bad. He wanted to take this opportunity to let the third uncle's family have more income and then give him some. If the third uncle could figure it out, that would be the best. If not, Xu Damao would have done his best.

Xu Damao saw that it was getting late and thought that Director Wang from the Street Office must have gone off work, so he gave up the idea of ​​going to the Street Office. He turned back into the house and sorted out some unusable and unwanted things and put them outside so that they could be thrown away.

Xu Damao was busy cleaning up until the evening, and he boiled water and cooked. Today they had steamed buns with hot and sour potato shreds and stir-fried Chinese cabbage. He also cut up two taels of meat and stir-fried it, which was also very fragrant. He also took out his old collection of Xifeng and drank three taels of wine, which was very delicious.

After Xu Damao finished eating and cleaning up, he felt a little sticky and uncomfortable. He was busy all day cleaning the house and sweated a lot. Xu Damao got up and went straight to the bathhouse with his bath ticket, towel, etc.

When passing by the middle courtyard, Xu Damao finally saw one of the famous scenes of the quadrangle: Qin Huairu washing clothes. Since crossing here, Xu Damao has not seen Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu should have been at home taking care of the children during the last meeting of the whole courtyard.

I saw a pretty figure standing in the dim water tank, rubbing clothes vigorously. She was wearing a blue floral jacket with her sleeves rolled up high. Her hands were red from the cold. She was about 1.65 meters tall. Her chest was bulging out of the jacket, and her oval face was very fair. A big braid hung behind her head. Her hips moved gently as her arms rubbed the clothes vigorously, like a white lotus swaying in the summer wind. No wonder Shazhu was confused when he saw her. If he hadn't traveled through time, he would have been in trouble too.

"Sister-in-law, when you wash clothes, you need to add some hot water even in the winter, otherwise your hands will be frozen." Xu Damao greeted.

"Hi, who did I think it was? It turns out to be Damao. I'm used to this. It's only a few pieces of clothes and I can finish washing them quickly." Qin Huairu raised her head and glanced at Xu Damao. There seemed to be a thousand kinds of grievances and charm in her eyes.

Xu Damao immediately sounded the alarm in his heart and said he couldn't stand it. This Qin Huairu is much younger than in the plot, and her power is much greater. No wonder Jia Dongxu died young. Ordinary people like this are definitely not lucky enough to enjoy it. I'd better stay away from her to avoid getting into trouble.

"Sister-in-law, you take a shower first. I have to go out and take a bath, so I'll leave first." After saying this, Xu Damao stretched out his long legs and walked away.

Qin Huairu was quite puzzled. In the past, Xu Damao always liked to talk a lot when he saw her, but today he was in such a hurry. Has he changed his nature? Just when she thought that the clothes were washed, Qin Huairu took the clothes back to dry them.