Although Mei Zhongzhong is no longer at home, she is still an elder after all, and it is rare to show her displeasure with such a clear attitude, and everyone dare not speak for a while.

Especially Wen, seeing Zhou being dragged away, he couldn't help but shudder, his body shrunk, and he couldn't wait to hide in a corner.

Mei Xiaotong put away all the silver tickets with Mrs. Li, and noted the purpose of each bet on the booklet.

Over there, Mei Zhongzhong had already pulled Mei Changqing, and Mei Changgui and An Huahao discussed the matter of the new house.

After a while, Mei Xiaoque also came in, and several men gathered around to discuss, and Wen went to cook.

Mrs. Li found an opportunity and pulled Mei Xiaotong to her room: "Girl, you settle the bill with the boss today, that jade mushroom-"

Mei Xiaotong smiled at Mrs. Li, pulled her to sit on the kang, took out a small box, handed it to Mrs. Li, and motioned for her to open it.

Mrs. Li opened the box, although she couldn't read or write, she still recognized the one hundred and two words on the silver ticket, and her eyes were about to pop out.

Especially if you count it, there are actually five? Isn't that five hundred taels?

Mrs. Li's excited voice changed: "This, this?" ”

Mei Xiaotong nodded.

Mrs. Li sighed, covered her chest, and thanked the gods and Buddhas who were full of gods and Buddhas and didn't even pull down the prince of the stove.

It took a long time to come back to his senses, and suddenly remembered something, and his face changed. Grabbing Mei Xiaotong's hand: "Why did Boss Zhang give you so much silver?" Nothing will happen, right? Girl, you heard my mother say, let's not take this money that shouldn't be taken! The family is having a good time now, and we can't agree to those requests that shouldn't be agreed! Although An Huahao's kid looks colder, he has a hot belly, don't-"

Although this silver is good, a good son-in-law is even more rare, don't be stupid!

Mei Xiaotong was stunned for a moment, but only then did she understand when she heard it, and she couldn't cry or laugh: "Mother, where do you want to go?" This silver is the money of the jade mushroom. ”

"Mother doesn't believe it, this jade mushroom is not made of gold, where is it worth so much silver?" Mrs. Li had a tiger face.

"Mother, it's true, when I handed over the jade mushroom this time

The opportunity was just right, and I did Boss Zhang a big favor, and he thanked me for giving more! Besides, the price of jade mushrooms is one price in our place, and when it comes to the capital, it can be more than ten times more. Mei Xiaotong explained.

"That's pretty much it! But it's still a lot of money. Girl, you are still young, I don't know, there is no good thing in this sky that loses pie in vain! This big boss is a businessman, which businessman doesn't want to make money? Besides, the price of the capital is that of the capital, and it has nothing to do with us. I always feel that this big boss gives so much silver, it must not be a good thing! This kind of bad old man in the city is very bad! Our farmers are honest, but we can't play with them. Gotta guard against them. My mother always feels unsteady, you can't plant this jade mushroom next year, and as soon as spring begins next year, I will let the family have it

People go up to the mountains to look for it, but it really can't be done, we can spend money and collect it from others. Mrs. Li was still not at ease, thought about it again and again, and instructed.

Mei Xiaotong didn't expect Mrs. Li to think of so much, she admired it in her heart, and agreed very simply: "Mother, don't worry!" I also think so, so Boss Zhang said that we would supply more jade mushrooms next year, and I refused on the spot. ”

"That's good, that's good! In the future, this big boss will let the third and fourth children go, and no matter how bad it is, there will be Hua Hao. You don't have to deal with him less, my mother has heard that those businessmen in the city have a lot of money, and their hair is gray, and they go to the countryside to spend money to trick the little girl into going back to be a little wife! My daughter is so good-looking, she can't keep the crooked minds of those old bastards! We have this silver, don't we still have the dividends from the shopkeeper Zheng? That's enough! In the future, you can enjoy yourself comfortably at home! "After all, Mrs. Li has lived for a long time, and she knows that in this world, girls are too good-looking and outstanding, especially in a family like her own, which is not a good thing.

Mei Xiaotong also feels that now that the Mei family's business is on the right track, it is not surprising that the family's small rich and expensive life can still be guaranteed in recent years.

Build a new house immediately, Mei Changgui gets married, the days of the Mei family, as long as they don't die, don't talk about other places, they are second to none in Shiqiao Town.

After improving the conditions of the Mei family's food, clothing, housing and transportation, what is her turn?

Everything is still unknown.

※※※

The Mei family is not a procrastinator, and the night before, the house was set.

The next day, the family started to get busy.

Mei Zhongzhong had already asked Mr. Feng Shui to be optimistic about the days last time, and it was three days later that it was advisable to break ground.

As for how to build the yard, the houses built in the village are all from the village, and generally a few main houses are built, and there are wing rooms next to them, which are more casual.

Just find a familiar master mason.

But what the Mei family wants to build this time is a large courtyard in Sijin, and the masons in this village have never done it.

Find someone else, there are really no such capable people in these ten miles and eight towns.

Who can build such a big house in their hometown?

Mei Zhongzhong was suddenly worried.

Or An Huahao took the initiative to stand up, saying that there were masons he knew in the town who had built houses for many families in the town.

Even Wu Dashanren, Wu Zhongbao's yard, is also in charge of this mason.

Not only is the mason good at craftsmanship, but he can also draw drawings, and as long as he says his requirements, he can give you a rough sketch of the house with a pen, such as where the door is, how the room is facing, the width and narrowness, the size of the doors and windows, and the size of the yard, which can be clearly marked. Mei Xiaotong understood as soon as she heard it, this is a bit like a modern architectural designer.

It just so happened that she was thinking about the new house, how could she live comfortably by herself, and now the design of the house is not to her liking, if there is such a thing

People just tell him what they think, and see if they can design a house that makes them comfortable to live in.

He immediately said that if he invited this mason to come, he would not be afraid of high wages.

Mei Zhongzhong was still a little reluctant, but Mei Xiaotong persuaded her: "Dad, let's build a big yard, but we plan to live comfortably and for a long time, of course, we must do better, and we must use everything well." Otherwise, why spend so much money to do it all over again? Wouldn't it be okay to build two random rooms next to the old house? ”

"The new house is beautifully built, comfortable to live in, in the future, Tianlong and Tianhu can also get married in the new house, and when the time comes, give birth to a few great-grandchildren, four generations in the same house, every day the great-grandchildren surround you and call you grandpa, think about that scene......"

"If you want to save money and build a few random houses, will it be possible for them to get married and go outside to build a house? Isn't it a waste of money? ”

I don't know which sentence moved Mei Zhongzhong, so he acquiesced.

An Huahao went to invite the master surnamed Jiang, looked in front of the homestead, and measured the area.

Back to the courtyard of Mei's house, pour tea, this is still the tea sent by Boss Zhang, with Mei Xiaotong, it is just a medium tea, but in this town, it is a high-quality tea.

Master Jiang took a sip of tea, paused, and looked at the Mei family's courtyard twice.

I didn't expect that there are such hidden people in this Lingshan Village, this tea, he also drank it in Wu Dashan's house, his lips and teeth are fragrant, and the aftertaste is sweet, and he still remembers it vividly.

Now I drink it at the Mei family, and I want to come to the Mei family with some unknown backgrounds.

Master Jiang immediately accepted the little contempt and straightened his attitude.

First sketched the general direction of the house on the paper, the gate opened to that side, and then drew how the four courtyards were arranged, what hanging flower gates, what shadow walls, and almost took out all the skills of his body.

In the afternoon, I took a look at the rough drawings.

Mei Xiaotong and the Mei family all gathered around to take a look, and they all exclaimed in admiration.

Even Mei Xiaotong couldn't help but light up her eyes, this Master Jiang really has two brushes, the courtyard of the four entrances sits north and faces south, and there is a gate, and when you enter, there is a shadow wall, blocking the view of outsiders looking inside.

Passing through the shadow wall, it is the first to enter the courtyard, an upper room, two side rooms, and three side rooms and a few small side rooms on the left and right, which can be used as a kitchen or sundries.

The square yard has a road in the middle, and two plots of land are left on both sides for planting vegetables and flowers.

Next to the wing house on the right above the courtyard, an arch was opened, and through it, it was the second entrance.

The second entrance to the courtyard is similar to the first, and there is also an arch to the third entrance.

In addition to the upper wing, there is also a small garden, which is designed as a high warehouse on three sides of the wall, and there is a well in the middle of the garden, which is to prevent the warehouse from catching fire.

In the garden of the fourth entrance

The door on the left is the back door of this yard, and you can also go to the warehouse behind from this small door, which is very convenient.

The door on the right, in the past, is the new house built by An Huahao and the Mei family.

Such a magnificent yard, no

The Mei family had to take this list to purchase materials, and also invite people to live mud and make mud bricks.

Because of Mei Xiaotong's cheerfulness, Master Jiang also listed several kind-hearted shops and tile kilns, and he often took care of the business, not only with fair prices, but also with good quality.

Since this is the case, Mei Xiaotong simply made a decision, asked An Huahao to send Master Jiang back to the town, and took Master Jiang to the store he introduced by the way, and placed an order directly according to the list opened by Master Jiang.

Master Jiang likes to deal with such cheerful guests, but he didn't expect that this countryside is still a girl's family, and he is so happy to do things.

still believing in himself made Master Jiang feel a sense of trust in his heart.

patted his chest at the moment, and promised with his reputation that he would definitely make the Mei family's yard strong and good-looking, and it would be no problem to live for a hundred years.

After the discussion, Mei Xiaotong took out a hundred taels of silver tickets and gave them to An Huahao and asked him to purchase materials.

Master Jiang also said goodbye, he went back to the town this time, not only to help choose materials, but also to call his old guys, who had been with him for more than ten years, and their temperament and temperament were compatible, and their skills were also top-notch.

The most important thing is to work and cooperate tacitly.

This is all agreed with the Mei family in advance, please Master Jiang, it must be to bring him with him, the salary is the same as other people's, not to mention the beautiful work, so as not to look for it yourself, who knows who can find it?

This house is no joke.

Sending off Master Jiang, everyone can't be idle.

Mei Zhongzhong wants to find Mr. Feng Shui again, and on the day of breaking the ground, he has to go to the homestead to make sacrifices before digging the foundation.

As for the three brothers of the Mei family, Mei Xiaoque and Mei Changgui are very popular in the village, and they have pondered more than a dozen men who have good friendships, and they will be invited to help when the time comes.

If nothing else, it takes a lot of effort to go to the ground to live mud, then make mud bricks, and then wait for it to dry, and then move it to the homestead for use.

As for Mei Changqing, Mei Xiaotong originally had to arrange things for him, but who knew that in the past few days, although it has passed the time to collect mountain goods, there are still people who come to Mei's house to sell mountain goods because of lack of money or various reasons.

If this is refused, I am afraid that it will affect the reputation, and it is not easy to gain a firm foothold, and naturally I can't drive the guests outside.

After pondering for a while, Mei Xiaotong knew that Mei Changqing was the most lazy to be alone, if he wanted to live mud and make mud bricks every day, he would definitely not be able to endure it, plus he could really be ruthless to himself, and he couldn't save himself when the time came, in order to escape, he really injured himself, not only couldn't help, but also had to draw someone to take care of him

。

Rather than this, it is better to separate Mei Changqing and let him be responsible for collecting mountain goods and taking care of a few children in the old house, and then let him take care of some odd things at home.

Mei Changqing was worried at the beginning of Mei Xiaotong's assignment of tasks, and at first he wanted to strive for the good errand of following Master Jiang to buy materials.

Mei Xiaotong also considered this issue when assigning tasks, and even thought about letting Mei Changqing purchase materials, after all, he could speak well.

But it's just one thought.

How could Mei Xiaotong hand over such a large sum of money to Mei Changqing? Although it looks better now, if he suddenly changes his mind on the road and runs away with the money, where can he find it?

Besides, this buys materials

, Mei Xiaotong asks for good quality, Mei Changqing, a money-loving character, in case of collusion with other stores.

Buy some inferior materials, come back and tell yourself that they are superior, and you don't understand it, and you will be deceived if you can't say it.

The house can be lived in by yourself, of course, you can't be sloppy.

After thinking about it, Mei Xiaotong still decided not to use money to test Mei Changqing's humanity, the price was too expensive.

As for Mei Xiaoque and Mei Changgui, they are too honest, Master Jiang is a shrewd person, and the two of them can't suppress him. Master Jiang has a crooked mind, and the two of them probably can't see it, but An Huahao can still hold it.

Mei Changqing's heart was cold after hearing that her sister assigned An Huahao to purchase materials.

Seeing that the eldest brother and the fourth child were assigned tasks, Mei Changqing's heart became more and more bottomless, and he looked at Mei Xiaotong nervously.

Unexpectedly, Mei Xiaotong arranged such a task for him, Mei Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, looked at the sister's smiling eyes, and knew that the sister was taking care of herself.

Busy said: "Sister, don't worry, the third brother promises you that you will receive the mountain goods well." When there are no guests, I will run errands or something! If this can't be done, I won't have the face to live in the new house! ”

Mei Xiaotong nodded, and continued to dispatch.

If you want to ask someone to help, in addition to paying your salary, you also have to take care of your food.

If you want to help the people who are willing to put in the effort, the house will get up quickly, the food should not be bad, and the oil and water will be sufficient, otherwise there will be no oil and water in the stomach, who will be willing to do it?

So you have to buy vegetables, buy meat, and have people cook.

Every day, more than ten or twenty people eat, three times a day, and the three or four women in the family and a few children can't afford it, and they have to ask someone to help cook.

This matter of inviting people, Mrs. Li knows in her heart, there have always been people in the village to do happy events, there will always be neighbors and relatives to help, Mrs. Li has looked at it coldly for so many years, she naturally knows who is quick with hands and feet, diligent in work, and is not the kind of person who secretly entangles the food of the main family and brings it home.

She has done several sons' marriages, as well as the funerals of the elderly, and has also helped other people's families, so she naturally has a good heart

Journey.

first determined the person to help, found a few mothers-in-law who liked on weekdays, and promised to give five cents a day and three meals, so there was no reluctance.

Now the Zhuang family has nothing to do, they are all staying at home, and the family is in a sad situation, at this time, there are two porridges a day, not starving to death, and it is good to survive until the beginning of spring next year.

I heard that the Mei family includes three meals and pays wages, not only women, but also men want to come.

Mrs. Li took the Zhou family and the Wen family again, went to a few well-connected houses to borrow a few cauldrons, and the kitchen guys who had a steamer or something, and asked Mei Changgui and the brothers to set up a few earthen stoves in the yard and split out a hill-like firewood stack.

He dragged the wheat and sorghum out of the granary at home, and went to the mill at the entrance of the village to grind out the flour.

Everything was ready, and Mrs. Li also went to the village to sell tofu, fish, and meat, and ordered how many tofu, fish, and meat to be sent to Mei's house every day.

As for the greens, in the backyard, there is nothing else, there are many cabbages and turnips.

As soon as Mei Xiaoque and Mei Changgui found a man in the village who had a good relationship, there was no disagreement. Let's not mention that everyone is a villager, some are still relatives, helping each other is the right thing, plus the Mei family also pays the salary, these men who help, fifteen wen a day, three meals.

This Mei family's house was built, and it took almost a month, and after a month, it could earn hundreds of yuan.

The men of the Zhuang family are not idle when the farm is idle, and they generally go to the town to find some odd jobs to do, and the women of the family go up the mountain to pick mountain goods.

In this way, you can earn some money for the New Year in a few months.

Now you don't have to go outside to find a job, you are hungry and full, and the salary is not low, who is not happy? They all happily agreed.

Others asked if there were enough people, and if they didn't, they could help find more.

Mei Xiaoque and Mei Changgui only said to go back and ask, and Ming'er will give them news again to see if they want anyone.

(End of chapter)