Siheyuan: a better life

Chapter 23 Building a Fire Pit!
When Wu Aiguo heard Wu Pingshan's inquiry, he nodded with certainty and replied with a serious face: "Dad! Due to the drought, grain production in several major grain-producing provinces has been reduced significantly this year, which has caused China's grain supply to begin to decline. insufficient."

"And according to internal information from our unit, the drought is likely to continue, and China is likely to experience a major famine in the next two years."

When Wu Pingshan heard the situation introduced by Wu Aiguo, a shocked expression appeared on his face. Thinking of the reduction in food rations in the past two months, Wu Pingshan said to himself with enlightenment: "I wonder, what happened in the past two months?" How come the ration suddenly decreased? That’s what happened.”

Chen Shuying, who was on the side, heard the conversation between father and son. Thinking of the large number of people in their Wu family, she said with worry: "Pingshan! There are eight people in our family! If the food ration is further reduced, our family's food supply may be There won’t be enough to eat, so why don’t I go to Pigeon Market tomorrow to see if I can buy some food and store it back?”

"Mom! I can solve the food problem. Our family doesn't need to store food." Wu Aiguo heard his mother's words, thought of the food in the still space, and quickly reminded Chen Shuying.

When Wu Pingshan heard what Wu Aiguo said to Chen Shuying, he immediately remembered those cronies Wu Aiguo knew before he joined the army, and immediately reminded Wu Aiguo: "Patriotic! You are now a cadre, what can you do, what can you do? If you can’t do something, you must have an idea in your heart.”

When Wu Aiguo heard Wu Pingshan's reminder, how could he not understand Wu Pingshan's thoughts, and quickly assured Wu Pingshan: "Dad! Don't worry! I will definitely not touch those speculative things."

Although Wu Aiguo had made a promise, Wu Pingshan still told Chen Shuying: "Shuying! Go to the Pigeon Market these few days, and if you come across someone selling grain, buy some back."

The next morning, after Wu Aiguo finished breakfast, he just walked to the middle courtyard when he saw Qin Huairu, carrying her child on her back, washing clothes in front of the pool.

Qin Huairu saw Wu Aiguo holding a military green cloth bag in his hand, and immediately greeted Wu Aiguo enthusiastically: "Brother Patriot! Good morning! Why do you go to work so early?"

Wu Aiguo saw Qin Huairu take the initiative to greet him, out of politeness, Wu Aiguo greeted him with a smile: "Sister-in-law Jia! Good morning! The unit is a bit far from here, if you don't go early, I'm afraid you will be late. "

After Wu Aiguo greeted Qin Huairu, he didn't stop deliberately, and walked directly towards the front yard.

When Wu Aiguo walked to the front yard, Master Wang was already working with his apprentices in the east wing.

Wu Aiguo saw Master Wang who was laying the floor tiles, and greeted Master Wang politely: "Master Wang! Good morning!"

Master Wang, who was working, heard Wu Aiguo's greeting, and greeted Wu Aiguo with a smile: "Comrade Aiguo! Good morning! Let me introduce you, this is Master Zhou who is in charge of the kang."

Wu Aiguo heard Master Wang's introduction and saw a middle-aged man standing next to Master Wang. He quickly greeted him enthusiastically: "Hello! Master Zhou! I'll trouble you for these three kangs in my house." .”

When Master Zhou heard Wu Aiguo's greetings, he thought of the plan he had in mind after seeing the house just now, and introduced Wu Aiguo: "My boss! Hello!"

"I just walked around your house. According to the layout of your house, you can connect the stove in the kitchen with the kang in the room, so that when you cook, the heat will be introduced into the kang, and finally Along the smoke exhaust pipe, out of the house."

"The advantage of this layout is that it can save firewood without having to deliberately burn the kang. The only disadvantage is that the innermost kang is as hot as the first two kangs. Of course, if you are not afraid of wasting firewood, you don't have to worry about this. question."

When Wu Aiguo heard the situation introduced by Master Zhou, he immediately understood what Master Zhou was thinking. Considering the problem of sleeping in the summer, Wu Aiguo asked Master Zhou curiously: "Master Zhou! There is no problem with this layout at all, but in the summer , how to solve the smoke exhaust and heat conduction problems of the stove?"

Master Zhou heard the question raised by Wu Aiguo and replied with a smile: "My boss! When Master Wang builds the stove, I will ask Master Wang to build a smoke exhaust pipe behind the stove. In the summer, as long as the stove is Block the flue to the fire pit! The problem is solved."

When Wu Aiguo heard the situation introduced by Master Zhou, he nodded in agreement and asked, "Master Zhou! How much does it cost to build three fire pits?"

When Master Zhou heard Wu Aiguo's inquiry, he thought of the cost he had calculated in his heart after checking several rooms, and said to Wu Aiguo: "My boss! I'll charge you 18 yuan for the materials for three fire pits. If it's suitable, I'm going to help you buy materials now."

When Wu Aiguo heard the price given by Master Zhou, he didn't think much and replied: "Master Zhou! I'll trouble you then!"

After negotiating the price with Master Zhou, Wu Aiguo didn't delay much, and hurried to the alley to take the bus to work.

"Uncle Zhou! Good morning!" More than half an hour later, Wu Aiguo arrived at Chaoyang Supply and Marketing Cooperative. When he saw Uncle Zhou sweeping the floor at the door, he immediately greeted him politely.

Uncle Zhou saw Wu Aiguo who greeted him, and replied with a smile: "Xiao Wu! Good morning!"

"Old Li! The needles and threads and soap over there at the counter are almost sold out. If you don't think of a way to get some sugar and soap back, the masses may tear down our counter." Wu Aiguo had just walked to the Purchasing Department , I heard a strange voice coming from Section Chief Li's office.

"Patriot! You're here!" Wu Aiguo heard the complaints from Section Chief Li's office and curiously walked to the door of Section Chief Li's office. Section Chief Li, who was sitting in the office, saw Wu Aiguo's arrival. As if seeing a savior, he quickly shouted to Wu Aiguo.

When the middle-aged man saw Wu Aiguo, he asked Section Chief Li curiously: "Old Li! Is this Comrade Wu Aiguo who just came from your purchasing department?"

When Section Chief Li heard the middle-aged man's inquiry, he quickly introduced: "Come on Zhang! You guessed it right, this is the deputy section chief of our Procurement Department, Comrade Wu Aiguo!"

"Patriot! Let me introduce to you, this is Comrade Zhang Beiping, the section chief of the sales department of our supply and marketing cooperative!"

Upon hearing Section Chief Li's introduction, Wu Aiguo quickly greeted Zhang Beiping politely: "Section Chief Zhang! Hello! Nice to meet you!"

Zhang Beiping heard Wu Aiguo's greetings, stretched out his hand to shake Wu Aiguo's, and said enthusiastically: "Comrade Patriot! Before you came to report, I heard our Director Jiang mention that our supply and marketing society transferred a Battle hero, I finally saw you in person today."

(End of this chapter)