Crossing the green wheat ears

After the wheat harvest was over, Xiyuan's house started to build a new house.Because the body and foundation of the house have been done in advance, it is enough to directly hit the ground and beam the wall.

Building a house this time is different from laying the foundation in spring, because there are no professional masons in the village to build brick houses, so Xi Mingwu made inquiries early on, and went to Wande Town to invite craftsmen and small workers who specialize in building brick houses. , There are [-] people in total, the West family is equivalent to directly contracting the task of building the house to them, and the wages are calculated on a head-by-day basis.There are men in the village who come to help, as long as you put in some effort, you can help these people.

Originally, it was agreed that it would be good for these people to have a meal at noon, but these people’s homes are far away from Lianhua Village, and the shortest distance is seven or eight miles, so they don’t go back at night, and stay in the West House. Several shacks were erected near the field.

Because they are all men and don’t know how to cook, they will eat as soon as possible. Xiyuan sees that they get up early and work hard, and you must know that wages are settled by the day, not by the amount. People have to sigh.

So after discussing with my family, I also made the morning and evening meals.But breakfast and dinner should be simpler, usually it is steamed bread pickles, porridge, soup, etc., but you can eat as much as you want.

This meal at noon is different. It is often steamed buns mixed with cornmeal and white flour. Sometimes Xiyuan’s mother will make a big pot of sorghum rice for them, because the weather is hot and there are other things at home. The business of Judelou has been temporarily suspended, but every now and then, Xiyuan or grandpa will drive a donkey cart to bring back the internal organs of ducks and geese slaughtered in Judelou that morning, and then share them with potatoes or beans and eggplants. Once stewed, there is another pot of spinach or cabbage soup. There are oily flowers floating on the soup, and it tastes very fragrant.Because it is late summer and early autumn, there are many vegetables in the garden, and they will be given a bowl of soybean paste for each meal, and a rice bowl next to it, which contains various pickles.These craftsmen and small workers are reluctant to put down their chopsticks.

Villagers come to help on their own initiative. This practice belongs to the local unwritten rules. Whoever has a little strength to work, such as building a house or building a wall, will go to help for two days as long as the villagers still want to walk with this family. work.Helpers don’t need wages, it’s a kind of favor in the village, in the future when something happens at home, others can help me.

Therefore, which family in the village is well-connected and gets along well with the villagers, and when there is something to do, you can tell by the number of helpers.Those who are usually lazy and do not contribute to other people's affairs, others will not help when their family has something to do; and those who do not have much contact with the villagers and live a deadly life, there are few people who help.

Because the old man, Xi Mingwen, and Xi Mingwu of the Xi family are all well-known in the village, there are quite a few people who come to help.Sometimes it depends on the number of people and they can't use them, like Cheng Yi and Uncle Wang Shun, they will go back to work on their own affairs first, and come back when they see that there are not enough people.

Although helpers don't need wages, they have to provide a meal for others at noon.Therefore, the villagers plus those craftsmen and small workers make meals for nearly 30 people every day.

Because Xi’s food is delicious, and the dishes are hard (oily and watery), so both the artisans and the villagers eat to their heart’s content.They usually don't see the smell of meat. Although the Xi's family doesn't buy special meat, the offal of duck and goose is also very delicious. If there is enough oil in the stomach, they will be hungry, and they will work hard.

Originally, the villagers wanted to help for one day, but when they saw how good the food was, they decided to help for two more days to fill their stomachs with oil and water.The same goes for artisans and small workers. The customers they worked in the past not only served one meal, but also had a clear soup with little water, and it was hard to see the oily smell. Sometimes they ate too much, and the owner’s home was not good. His complexion didn't look like the West's. No matter how much he ate, the people from the master's house laughed and asked if they were full. There was still more on the stove.

People's hearts are fleshy, if you throw peaches at others, others will repay you, so these people do their work more and more seriously, for fear that they may not be able to do well to such a good customer.

However, there are also dissonant sounds, that is Xi Mingquan, the youngest son of the Xi family.He felt that it was necessary for him to participate in the construction of his elder brother's house. He couldn't write two Western characters in one stroke. He was Xi Mingwen's brother, so he really wanted to show off and get addicted to commanding others.

Everyone in the village is familiar with him, but he can't command, so he just copies his hands every day, proudly selecting craftsmen or small workers to command.Sometimes they say that they didn’t do this well, another time they said that they didn’t do that well, or they said that they didn’t work hard and hid traitors. You know, their West family pays wages, and they pay by the day. If you don’t give enough Strength, isn't that cheating people's wages?

Xi Mingwen's participation is really a piece of mouse droppings stirring up a pot of soup, and it makes the craftsmen angry. They are craftsmen, and they rely on this for food. Why don't you understand it better than a layman.

One day a craftsman was building a wall, and Xi Mingquan was picking at the thorns below. As a result, the craftsman lost his mind and built it a little crookedly. Xi Mingquan was even more unreasonable. It was flushed red, it was the first time he had done such a dishonorable thing, but there was no place to let his face go!And it would be bad if he caused trouble for other craftsmen. There have been such cases in the past where the owner’s wages were deducted. not easy.

The craftsman couldn't continue working, but he had a good eye, and he didn't say anything to Xi Mingquan. He went directly to Xi Mingwen and Xi Mingwu, explained the situation to the two brothers, and said that he didn't want his wages these days. Don't charge others.

Xi Mingwen didn't say a word. He knew his three brothers well. Speaking of which, he may not be able to do the work of a mason, but they all do manual work. He also worked as a small laborer for a rich family to build a house the year before last. He can't do it. But he knows how to watch, who does a good job and who does a bad job, he can know for a day or two.

The craftsman in front of him is actually doing a good job, but he is honest, and Xi Mingquan probably picked a thorn from the bottom, and he panicked, so he crooked the wall.

"It's okay, I don't blame you for this matter, I see what you do." Xi Mingwen comforted the craftsman, saying that he is also an honest man, so he couldn't bear to bully honest people.

"It's okay if my elder brother says it's okay. You can go back and dismantle the crooked part and put it back together. From now on, as long as my elder brother doesn't say anything, you don't have to take what others say to your heart." Seeing his elder brother's words, Xi Mingwu said, Also followed to persuade the craftsman.

"Hey, good, good, you two are really good people!" The craftsman was so moved that his eyes were red. He was preparing for his wages to be deducted and himself to be kicked out, but he didn't expect——Why is there such a big difference in this family? Woolen cloth!

The craftsman thanked him again and again, and went back to continue working.

"This third child, why is he causing trouble?" Xi Mingwen was a little annoyed.Every time Xi Mingquan came, he didn't move his spade and pick, and he didn't stretch out his hand when he was doing his best. It's okay to walk here and there, it's better than the two young ones at home.

Because Xi Wei and Wei Cheng were afraid of bumping into them, the adults in the family did not allow them to approach the house when they were working, so the two little guys could only watch from a distance, and the two little guys didn't want to eat casually, either. Just took the initiative to take on the task of watching guys and other things, and did it very seriously.

Seeing that the two of them wanted to participate, Xiyuan didn't discourage the enthusiasm of the two children. He made a form out of paper, listed the things they read horizontally, and wrote the date vertically. To record.Because of their previous experience in accounting and keeping accounts in Jude Building, the two little ones did a great job. , Xiyang and Xiyong next to him also followed to help.

"It's okay, brother. I'll keep an eye on him from today on." Xi Mingwu was also very angry. The eldest brother is honest and the eldest brother, so it's not easy to say anything about Xi Mingquan in front of the villagers, but he doesn't have to worry so much .

From that day on, Xi Mingwu followed behind Xi Ming's whole body. Xi Mingquan was still a little jealous of Xi Mingwu. He was about to open his mouth to scold others, but when he turned his head and saw Xi Mingwu, he quickly swallowed his words; Ming Wu is also funny, as long as Xi Ming is caught by him, he will say: "Oh, the third child has no use for his skills, come on, there are just two brick movers over there, come here quickly Give me a hand."

Xi Ming couldn't push it, so he had to move the bricks. He planned to wait for Xi Mingwu to leave before he slipped away, but Xi Mingwu also went crazy and didn't go anywhere, just behind his ass, moving bricks with him.In the end, after moving bricks for three days, Xi Mingquan was so tired that he couldn't get up on the kang. How could he have suffered such a crime, he was so scared that he never dared to go to the house to scare the director.Those craftsmen and small workers, as well as the villagers who saw some signs, were secretly happy.

Xi Ming didn't go to the real estate to mix things up, but the couple is also a wonderful thing, they can get rid of that embarrassment, eat three meals a day, and take the children to the elder brother's house to eat at the meal time.

The third aunt used the reason that she was pregnant and couldn't do heavy work as an excuse, so she ate with peace of mind, wiped her mouth after eating, lifted her buttocks and left.

"Hey, why is it like this? I feel so unfair when I look at it." Aunt Wang and Niang Xiyuan of Wang San's grandma's family murmured.

All the men in the village come to help with the work, and the women who have a good relationship will also find time to help with the cooking. Aunt Wang, Cheng Yi's daughter-in-law, Xie Mingli, and Zhao Laoba's daughter-in-law, who get along well with the Xi family, often come here. I will often take a basket of green vegetables from my own garden. No matter how many vegetables there are in the West family, I can't hold so many mouths to eat.

"That's it, it's like eating an enemy." Xi Yuanniang was not without anger.

"Tell me, you can't do anything else, even those old ladies picking beans?" Aunt Cheng couldn't see it either.

"Her face is really big enough, so many people are happy to look at it." Xie Mingli's daughter-in-law also interjected.

"Your old lady doesn't like her when she sees her like this. Aunt Xi is such a face-saving person. They just give up to the old man like this." Aunt Wang sighed with emotion.His family, Wang Shun, is also the eldest, and has three brothers and two younger sisters. As the eldest sister-in-law, she understands the difficulties of Xi Mingwen and his wife very well.

Xiyuan Niang listened to their discussion, even though she was angry, she couldn't say anything too harsh, after all, it had to be up to the old man.The old man and the old lady saw that they were building a house at home. They couldn’t work as hard as young people when they were too old. Grandpa and his grandma take it easy, don't worry about the house not being built, they are exhausted.

"I have to say, your old man really has no choice." Cheng Yi's daughter-in-law also followed Aunt Wang's words to comfort Xiyuan Niang.

"Yeah, everyone has a little bit of trouble, let's think about it." Xie Mingli's daughter-in-law also sighed.Although Xie Mingli of his family is not the boss at home, there are a lot of things going on at home, why doesn't his family have a brother and sister-in-law like the boss of the Xi family!

While the women were busy with the work in hand, they said that some parents in the village had some complaints. They were all year-round laborers and they worked very quickly.

The old lady in the main room picked the spinach for the soup at night, and couldn't help but sigh when thinking of the virtues of the young couple.

During the process of building the house, Xiyuan also met an acquaintance, Shuanzi, a sick young man who sold the cart when he bought a donkey cart with his father last year.

When he first saw Shuanzi, Xiyuan didn't recognize him, but Shuanzi knew Xiyuan. He was very grateful to the little doctor who cured his illness, and quickly and earnestly thanked Xiyuan.

Xiyuan didn't recognize him until he explained the situation. It was because the embolism was too big. Although he was still thin now, he wasn't as ill as he was last year.

"My mother gave me your prescription for half a year and I'll be fine. Originally, it wouldn't take half a year, but my mother insisted on taking it for a while, and it will be completely cured." Shuanzi said with a smile.

"Well, as long as it's done, eat more food when you have nothing to do in the future, don't be picky about food, often make some bone soup to drink, there are only advantages and no disadvantages." Xiyuan urged.Shuanzi nodded again and again, he was very convinced of Xiyuan now.

"Why do you work as a small laborer for someone to build a house?" Xi Mingwen next to him also asked, Shuanzi's family is from Yansui City, and they found craftsmen from Wande Town.

"Didn't I sell my donkey and cart when I was sick last year, and I owed some debts. Now that I am sick, I want to do some work to support our mother and I, so that we can save money to pay off the famine owed." Shuan Zi returned , although still smiling, but a hint of worry flashed across his face.People are afraid of getting sick. When they get sick, the money to hire a doctor and buy medicine can ruin their entire family. Last year, his family sold everything they could afford and borrowed some money from acquaintances.

"Then why are you still in Wande Town?" Xiyuan asked.

"It's the old Zhao who brought you two to my house to buy a car. Seeing that I am ill and have no livelihood, he has a distant relative who happens to be a mason and builds houses for people. Nuo, the one who built the wall on the south side, old Zhao Just ask me, and I will work hard to make money." Shuanzi explained.

"This job can still be done now, but it won't be able to do it when it's cold in a few days." Xi Mingwen used an affirmative sentence. In winter, the outside is covered with ice, and the permafrost is nearly two meters underground. Yin'er, no one knows how to build a house in winter, and they can't build it at all.

"Let's talk about it when the time comes." Shuan Zi was very worried when he thought that he would not have any work for a few days. From the time he started to work, those people who owed money were all staring at his house. As soon as he earned back the money, someone would come If the family wants, he and his mother have nothing to complain about. It’s not easy for anyone these days. People who can lend them money are still good. He has a few relatives who are sick like that, and he refuses to extend his hand. If he disappeared, his wife would not be able to pay at all, and the money would be wasted.

After chatting with Shuanzi for a while, Shuanzi called Xiyuan one by one, and called Xiyuan very embarrassed. He borrowed the light from crossing over. The blind cat was right when he encountered a dead mouse, but he dared not let others Calling him a doctor, what he learned from Dr. Li is also different. Xiyuan feels that he is far from the word doctor.

So Xiyuan told Shuanzi again and again, don't call him little doctor anymore, and don't tell anyone about it.

"Understood, little doctor." Shuanzi hurriedly agreed, and found himself calling the little doctor again, and patted his head in embarrassment.

After nearly a month of busy work, the house was finally built.On the day the work was completed, the Xi family paid the craftsmen and small workers wages, and made a good meal at noon.Those people thought that the leader was too discerning at the beginning, and when they contacted the Xi family for this job, not to mention the salary, the food was also good.

Every time they finish building a house for someone else’s house, they will be sallow and thin due to the burden of each other and poor food; now, after finishing the work of the West’s family, not only did they not lose weight, but they gained a lot of meat. These days, the food is running fast It's time to go home for the New Year.

Therefore, the leaders of the craftsmen kept telling Xi Mingwen and Xi Mingwu that they could only find them for any work in the future, and they would promise to do it well, because they were afraid that the Xi family would not be able to find them if they had work, so they would not be able to find them in their own house. Tell the brothers of the West family.

Xi Mingwen and Xi Mingwu calculated that according to Xiyuan's plan, the family would really need craftsmen in the future, so they hurriedly greeted Xi Weiwei and the two younger ones, and took a pen to write down the address said by the craftsman.

Because the house has just been built, the inside of the house cannot be tidied up yet, so the Xi family agreed with the leader that after the big autumn, let him bring two craftsmen to help hang the ceiling and paint the walls. He specifically asked him to take the embolus with him when he was working.

The leader agreed, but he didn't understand why Rang brought the embolus. Could it be that the boy's work was so good that he caught the eyes of the master?But he is just a small worker, he just needs to work hard, so why is he so proud (liked) by others?

When Shuanzi heard that he could come to work for the Xi family before winter, he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth.

They had eaten at noon, and returned home that day. They have been out for nearly a month. Let the family members follow along happily.

After dismissing the craftsmen, the Xi family finally calmed down, and the old man led Xi Mingwen and Xi Mingwu to do the follow-up small tasks.Originally, Xi Mingwen wanted the second child to go home and have a look, but Xi Mingwu insisted on finishing all the work before leaving. The family has been busy for a month from old to young, and they are a little tired, so he has to help get it. at last.