Rebirth at the starting point of happiness

The autumn harvest is finally over, but that doesn’t mean the work is done.

The roots and rhizomes of plants in the fields must be cleared out, and each family’s private plots must also be harvested.

Winter is coming, and we have to stock up on firewood for our families, so more people are going up the mountain.

Su Qiuyue was an educated youth and had no private plot of land, nor anything in her vegetable garden, so she had a lot less work to do than others.

Every day she and her sister went up the mountain to find firewood, and when her sister wasn't paying attention she would put branches and dead wood into the space.

There are also tree leaves, which are also very useful.

If there are no bags to put them in, my eldest cousin will use a straw bag.

Although it is rough, it is especially useful for storing potatoes, sweet potatoes and radishes at home.

I got a few for Su Qiuyue's family. In addition to storing vegetables, Su Qiuyue also stored tree leaves.

She used it as kindling.

"Sister! Look! Such a big piece of wood."

Su Qiuyue heard her sister's cry and hurried over.

She and her sister didn't dare go deeper into the forest, as it would be easy to get lost even if they entered the forest at the foot of the mountain.

So every time Su Qiuyue and her sister would take a piece of cloth and tie it as they walked a certain distance to avoid getting lost.

Just now my sister found a broken log lying in the forest.

This tree is dead. I don't know when it broke, and there are traces of fractures on the roots.

The tree was about four or five meters tall, and the thickest part of the broken trunk was as thick as my sister's thigh.

If you pull it back, it can burn for a long time.

The two sisters only had a hatchet and an axe, and the axe was borrowed from their cousin's house.

I have to buy one next time I go to town, otherwise it will be difficult to chop wood every day.

The wood was too heavy and too big, so two people could only cut it into pieces bit by bit and carry it back in sections.

This took two days.

The main reason was that Su Qiuyue was worried about her sister walking back and forth alone, so she wanted to walk together every time.

She also knew that this was not the right thing to do, but she just couldn't control herself and was always worried that something unexpected would happen.

After the two men moved the wood, they went on to look for firewood. Su Qiuyue asked her sister to collect leaves to use for the stove.

She would go find broken branches or dead wood, and put them into the space when her sister couldn't see them.

So soon the firewood in the house piled up.

When the first frost comes, I can finally take a good rest.

While her sister was at school, Su Qiuyue used space to put all the vegetables into the cellar.

The stove at home was lit, and there was a fire wall in the room, making it warm and comfortable to lie on the kang.

Only then did Su Qiuyue find the time to plant the land in the space.

Although they were staying at home during the winter, everyone had to go to the brigade to do odd jobs, such as weaving straw sandals and straw mats out of corn leaves.

Various baskets and baskets are made from wheat straw.

This kind of work doesn't take more than a few days, and there are only so many things to make. The main thing is that after weaving, everyone can exchange it for corn leaves and wheat straw for their own use.

Su Qiuyue didn't know how to do it at all and didn't want to go through the trouble, so she could only ask her eldest cousin for help.

The eldest cousin waved her hand and agreed to weave two baskets and straw sandals for her.

Su Qiuyue was going to town. After the autumn harvest, she received a letter from Uncle Fu asking about her situation. She used the excuse of replying a telegram to go to town.

I asked my eldest cousin and my younger cousin to come home and keep my younger sister company for one night.

Her trips to town were simple: to buy meat, cotton, cloth, and food.

Since the public grain had been paid, the task pigs and other items had also been handed over.

Hurry and buy meat, the brigade will slaughter the New Year pig before the New Year, and she can't wait.

I also bought peanuts, mung beans, melon seeds, eggs, and blood sausage.

These cost more than a hundred dollars, which is really a waste of money.

When everyone in the team saw her coming back with lots of bags, the news spread.

Some people say that young people don’t know how to live, and some of them have their own plans in mind.

Her eldest cousin helped her boil a jar of lard, and asked her aunt to make two large pots of fried cabbage and multi-grain buns, and there was some left over.

The children ate it for two days and were so happy that they covered their mouths every day for fear that the flavor would disappear.

A few days later, the first snow fell, and everyone began to hibernate at home.

While her sister was at school, Su Qiuyue was studying at home.

She had to learn to identify herbs and memorize ointment prescriptions.

I was reading a book when I heard someone shouting. After a while, the door opened and my cousin came in with a bunch of things.

"Big sister." Su Qiuyue quickly put down the book in her hand and went over to help.

"Okay, stop it."

Xu Feng tactfully made way and did not let Su Qiuyue take over. He put the things directly into the house, then picked up the small broom hanging at the door and swept away the grass clippings and dust on his clothes.

“I made two large baskets, made of corn leaves, with willow branches inserted inside to make them stiff.

You can use it after you steam the buns.

There are also two small baskets, which Xiaohui skillfully made for you using willow twigs. You can use them to hold the steamed buns when you eat.

This is a small basket my mother made for you. It is very useful for storing needles and thread."

The eldest cousin handed the basket to Su Qiuyue.

Su Qiuyue took it and almost dropped it on the ground.

"Why is it so heavy? I was shocked. What is it made of?"

Su Qiuyue struggled to look through the basket in her hand, which was as big as a large bowl.

"You haven't seen it before? Hahaha, it's made of mud." Seeing her flipping through it curiously, the eldest cousin sat on the kang and laughed.

"Ah?" This Su Qiuyue had never seen this before.

“When you were building the wall, my mom used the mud to make a lot of these big bowls.

After drying in the shade under the wall, paste them together when pasting the window seams.

This thing is not afraid of heat when placed on the kang, and it is stable and will not easily fall over. It is the best for storing needles, thread, and tobacco leaves." The eldest cousin introduced it to her.

They sleep on kangs all year round here, and most things will easily break if left on the warm kang for a long time.

Especially if someone in the family smokes dry tobacco, it would be painful if the tobacco leaves accidentally fell over. This kind of basket will not fall over easily.

"Oh, that's great. It's not easy to get a puncture when you put needles and thread. That's great."

Su Qiuyue looked left and right and liked it very much.

Seeing that she liked it, Xu Feng was also happy.

"Don't tell me, your house has double-layer windows, and my father also added a layer of windows to my house. At this time of year in previous years, there would be frost on the windows, but there was no frost after a night yesterday."

Xu Feng said, looking at the window of her house.

"That's not what I thought. My house has double-glazed windows. Besides, the sawdust inside to keep warm was given by my cousin."

Speaking of this, Su Qiuyue also looked towards the window.

Her windows were stripped and remade, so there was a lot of space between the two windows.

When frost forms on the windows outside, cover all the gaps with window paper and place thick sawdust between the two windows to keep them warm.

This way, the windows are not only draft-proof, but also can prevent frost from forming, so that in winter the windows are not covered with white frost and you cannot see outside.

“Your house has been empty for a few years. You need to heat it up more in the winter so it will be ready next year. Otherwise, it will be cold.

Fortunately, the house is not big and doesn’t require much firewood. I think your firewood pile is enough.

If it’s not enough, just come to my house and get it.”

The eldest cousin looked around the room and said to Su Qiuyue.

"By the way, sister, are you busy now?" Su Qiuyue asked.

"I'm not busy, just doing some housework." Xu Feng said.

"Sister, why don't you come to my house and work? You can teach me how to make a cotton jacket and trousers." Su Qiuyue said.

She and her sister had old cotton jackets and trousers, but she didn't know how to make them. That year her grandfather passed away, and she fell ill while working in the countryside, so she missed the time to make new trousers.

What she is wearing now are all old and too short. She has to hurry up and make some, otherwise she will have a hard time getting through the winter.

"Okay, that's easy to do. Do you have cloth?" Xu Feng agreed immediately. They were all small chores at home and could be done anywhere.

She asked if there was any cloth because everyone was only wearing cotton jackets and trousers now.

Every year I refurbish my cotton-padded coats and trousers. If they are too short, I mend them; if they are torn, I patch them up.

It can be patched up for another three years, but the cotton inside needs to be refurbished, otherwise it will not be able to resist the cold in winter.

Sister Su Qiuyue has already put on cotton coats and trousers. If there is no cloth, they can only make use of old ones. So they have to hurry and do it at night, otherwise they will have nothing to wear the next day.

"Yes, yes, I bought them all in town after the autumn harvest." Su Qiuyue said quickly.

"Okay, take it out and I'll teach you." Xu Feng asked her to take the cloth.

Because Su Xinyue still has to go to school, I made her cotton pants first.

He took out the trousers she was wearing and measured them, then used powder to draw lines on the cloth.

He taught Su Qiuyue while he was painting, but unfortunately, Xu Qiuyue understood it, but when it was her turn to paint, she didn't know how to paint.

"Come on, if you want to make one, just let me draw it for you. Bring the cotton here and I'll teach you how to make cotton pieces." Xu Feng saw that she was having a hard time learning and stopped teaching her. She had already drawn so many in that time.

Xu Feng waited until she learned how to make cotton flakes before she went back. In just a short while, the fabric for making cotton jackets and trousers had been cut out by her eldest cousin.

Su Qiuyue looked at the four rolled-up cloth rolls that had been cut and marked, and then looked at the several cotton pieces that had been prepared, and couldn't help but sigh.

No wonder my cousin is known far and wide as the “Iron Girl”; she does this job so skillfully.

Cotton sheets are easy to make, as long as they are of uniform thickness and size.

In the remaining time, Su Qiuyue could read books while making cotton pads.

Later on, I got better at using the cotton pads and could do it faster and faster.

It was just enough to make Xinyue's cotton pants, and her eldest cousin also made an appointment to come home to teach her how to sew them.

After the cotton pieces are ready, lay them densely and evenly on the cut cloth, then you can sew them.

"Qiuyue, look what this is?!"

The eldest cousin shouted as she entered the room, followed by her third and fourth cousins.

Xu Feng had nothing in his hands, but a cloth bag under his armpit, which contained the work he was going to do today.

The fourth cousin came into the room with a shy smile on her face, while the third cousin and Su Xinyue both leaned sideways and looked at her with smiles on their faces.

"Let me see it quickly." Su Qiuyue knew that the two naughty boys were teasing her, so she spoke out.

"Look." The third cousin excitedly held up the thing in her arms in front of Su Qiuyue.

"Oh, puppy." Su Qiuyue said in surprise.

A small yellow dog was looking at Su Qiuyue blankly.

"How old is this puppy?" Su Qiuyue asked. It looked like it was only two or three months old.

"It's almost half a year old. I took it back from you now that it can eat." Xu Feng said with a smile.

"Half a year old? So young?" Su Qiuyue couldn't believe it. She thought he was still a puppy.

"It's not a child anymore. If my dad hadn't asked people for a puppy, it wouldn't have survived." Xu Feng said.

People can’t even get enough to eat these days, let alone raising a dog.

"So cute."

The puppy was placed on the kang, and the three children lay on the edge of the kang, looking at the puppy who seemed a little scared.

Suddenly, in the unfamiliar environment, the puppy's body shivered slightly. He crawled on the kang and dared not move. His little head couldn't help but look around.

"Sister Qiuyue, please give the puppy a name." Xu Hua said happily.

"Okay, go ahead." Xu Qiuyue and her elder sister sat on the kang and started to work, leaving the naming to them.

Finally, the puppy was named "Da Huang". Then the little ones started looking for a nest for "Da Huang".

Finally, he took out a useless woven basket, carefully put straw in it and made a nest for the puppy "Dahuang".

"Sister Qiuyue, I have some extra small gourds at home. I'll go back and saw them in half for you and use them as dog food bowls for Dahuang." Xu Hua said excitedly, and after waiting for his eldest sister to agree, he ran out with his two younger sisters.

Su Qiuyue and Xu Feng watched them run out with a smile.

"You've been making cotton trousers at home all this time, so you may not know what's going on among the educated youth," Xu Feng asked.

"What's the matter? What happened?" Su Qiuyue asked.

“A few days ago, the team leader said that the commune would come to arrange study.

Learning hygiene habits and things like that, and things like literacy classes.

It's difficult to go to the countryside now that it's snowing, so the documents were sent here, and each brigade was asked to arrange someone to give the presentations.

They arranged it for the educated youth, and it was counted as work points, so the educated youth courtyard caused a commotion. "Xu Feng told Su Qiuyue about the matter.

If the brigade hadn't required her to go, she wouldn't have wanted to go. She would rather have her cousin tutor her at home.

When she was working at her cousin's house and her cousin was reading a book, she would listen to her and ask questions when she was interested. Her cousin would then pass the calligraphy to her.

She also learned that some of the grass on the mountain is medicinal and can be exchanged for money, which is better than going to literacy classes.

She has learned to recognize many characters in the past two days, and can read some articles without any hesitation. My cousin even taught her to write with a pencil and a notebook.

"Who made the trouble?" Su Qiuyue asked.

"Who else could it be? That new educated youth Zhu Hong. He made such a big fuss. There were a few people stirring up trouble. If he can't get what he wants, others can't expect him to keep quiet either.

You have a bad heart." Xu Feng said with a pout.

There were many educated people among the educated youth, and when she was prominent, she would jump up and down without fear of falling.

"What happened in the end?" Su Qiuyue asked.

"Just listen to the captain." Xu Feng said as a matter of course.

Su Qiuyue nodded. After all the fuss, she finally had to listen to the captain's arrangements.

She didn't believe that those people didn't know. Moreover, Chen Shanlin couldn't even recommend a person. He allowed Zhu Hong to make such a fuss. It must be intentional.

Su Qiuyue didn't think there was anything wrong with it. People die for money and birds die for food. There is nothing wrong with doing this.

Once you’ve made one pair of cotton trousers, the second pair will be easy to make.

"Is anyone home?"

The two were chatting when they heard someone shouting outside the door.

Su Qiuyue quickly put away the book in her hand.

Xu Feng also put down what he was holding and stood up. As soon as he stood up, the door was opened.

When everyone walked into the room, Su Qiuyue looked up and saw an unfamiliar middle-aged woman.

"At home? Oh, then I'm in time." The woman spoke in a familiar manner, laughing as she spoke and sat down directly on the edge of the kang.

Su Qiuyue glanced at her cousin, who also didn't understand who the visitor was.

“You don’t know me, but I know you.

Are you Xu Feng, the famous "iron girl" from Carpenter Xu's family? "The woman smiled at Xu Feng and said, "When she nodded, she turned to Su Qiuyue and said,

"You can tell at first glance that she is a capable and good girl. You are her cousin. The one the captain praised in the meeting before was Su Qiuyue, the educated youth, right? Oh, look at her little appearance, she is really pitiful." The woman said, looking at Su Qiuyue.

Su Qiuyue nodded. After the autumn harvest, when the team leader held a meeting, he mentioned that she had received a letter of commendation. Many people in the team knew her, so it was not surprising.

But what does this woman mean?

Before she could think more, the woman spoke.

"I'm from the 16th Brigade. My name is Chen Guihua. I live on the other side of the river. So we're neighbors." After the woman said this, Xu Feng's face fell.

Su Qiuyue knew at first glance that there must be something wrong with this person's identity, but she didn't know why he came to her house.