in spring

Chapter 239 Repairing the New House
As soon as Hu Fei left, Chunying started to miss him in less than half an hour.Fortunately, she was still busy with moving, which made it easier for her.

Shi'er was very sad to hear that her family was going to move out, and it was a few hundred meters away, but the Wang family exchanged a few winks with each other and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.It's not that they have no experience of living in the same compound with other families, but they used to be used to living together with clansmen. The conditions here are far inferior to those in the back streets of Houfu. Even the dishes, chopsticks and buckets have to be shared with others. How can they live comfortably? ?Besides, the son is still living in someone else's house.Aunt Wang turned around and discussed with her husband whether to inform her son.

Seeing this, the Lu family members were grateful that they had made this decision early, otherwise if it was delayed, they would not know when the two families would have a quarrel, and it would be difficult to deal with it.

Lu Yougui took money to the town to buy a jar of good wine, half a pig, and a basket of pastries. After inquiring, Guanshi Cao and his wife were at home, so he brought his wife over to test whether the other party objected to his moving.After all, the yard next to the warehouse was arranged by the other party for his family and the Wang family.Guan Cao didn't make things difficult for him. He could see that Lu Yougui was a man of good manners in the past few days. In addition, Hu Fei had said hello beforehand, so he didn't say anything, as a tacit agreement.Lu Yougui got the approval letter, and immediately went home to start the house renovation.

Qiuyu and Lu Renyi had already received a letter from Hu Fei, who came the next day with four hired laborers to help renovate the house.When Lu Yougui saw it, he was immediately overjoyed.

What Hu Fei bought was an old three-and-a-half-room house with two lights and one dark, with a large courtyard outside.The house is very old, but it is very solidly built. The wall is made of bricks and stones, which is a foot thick. As long as it is repainted with plaster, it will look like new.There was a leak on the roof, and it just so happened that there were a few families in the Tianzhuang who were stringing tiles a few days ago, so it was very easy to ask for a few leftover tiles to repair.Mother Lu was still muttering that the windows had to be re-pasted, the furniture had to be re-purchased, and wooden things such as doors, windows, and windows had to be replaced with new ones if they were decayed due to age.Although I don't know how long I will live here, but it is my own house anyway, so I can't celebrate the New Year, so I have to use old things, right?

In addition, because there are three houses, one main house is used to entertain guests, one is for the Lu family couple, and the remaining one belongs to Chun Ying. The kitchen is still set up in the courtyard. The weather is too inconvenient, so it is suggested to add a hut.Although there is no need to be too particular about the materials used, it must be built more solidly.When the wind is strong in winter, it is also necessary to prevent the fire on the stove from being blown out, so that the water cannot be boiled and the rice cannot be cooked.

The addition of so many projects in bits and pieces, although not very troublesome, is not something that his family of three can do.I wanted to hire people on the spot at the village, but it was the end of autumn, and according to the village’s custom, the autumn harvest had already ended, but the mulberry forest had to be prepared to plant some more vegetables and beans, to be eaten or sold for money in winter or early spring. .It is said that this was specially ordered by the second master in the past. After several years of planting, seeing that there were still some harvests, he kept this practice.In addition, there are people who need to prepare mulberry trees for the winter, repair roofs, dig ditches, and connect ditches... There are not many free men in the whole village, and the women don't know how to do plumbing. .In order to get the house repaired before it snowed, Chunying was so anxious that she even planned to do it herself.

Lu Renyi brought a helper here at this time, which really helped him a lot.

Because of the large number of people and their familiarity with the work, it took only two days for the front and back of the house to be repaired, even the kitchen was built, and people were invited to set up two stoves.At the end of autumn, there is strong wind and sunshine, and the muddy water dries quickly.Chunying followed her mother, brought some big luggage, and bought a few commonly used furniture and bedding. While tidying up, she murmured in her heart: Hu Fei said he was only going for two days, why hasn't he come back yet?Did something happen again?
She was tidying up here absent-mindedly, while Lu Yougui paced back and forth in the backyard with his hands behind his back, staring at the half of the mulberry forest and worrying.

The yard is very large, and there is a large area on the east side of the backyard and the room, half of which were originally planted with mulberry trees.The Lu family didn't sell them for money, and they didn't plan to take care of them.Mother Lu originally planned to plant a few fruit trees, but thought that she would not know how long she would live here, so she hesitated again and again, but she gave up this idea and went to work on the two acres of vegetable land instead.Now it's Lu Yougui's idea to build up this open space.

Finally, he called his son-in-law and asked him to bring the leftover wooden planks, bamboo poles and other sundries to build a shed. When the weather is warmer next spring, he will buy some grape seeds or seedlings to plant. Grapes are eaten.

Then there was another ping-pong-pong noise in the backyard.

Mother Lu was upset when she heard that, picked up the sewing basket, and said to her daughter, "I'll go to your sister-in-law Zhang's house to do some work. The house is full of men, so don't stay here stupidly, just ask your brother-in-law to accompany you to the town. , buy some paper to paste the windows, and the colored thread at home is almost gone, so we have to buy a copy of the oil and salt seasoning. If you can’t go back, you should invite them to have a drink and a meal, you buy a few catties of meat, a chicken, and bring back two catties of wine.”

Chunying agreed, and went back to the yard where she lived to get the money. When she returned to the front of her new house, she saw her brother-in-law was being ordered by her father to move the wooden boards, but the small workers were gone. After asking, she found out that they had finished their work. So he went back early, saying that he would go to another house to work tomorrow.Chunying stared at her brother-in-law's feet, and saw that he was sweating profusely, so she decided to take a trip by herself.

The town is seven or eight miles away from the village, and you can reach it by walking straight along the main road. Chunying and Hu Fei once wandered around the streets and alleys of the capital, and went to villages on the outskirts of the city. They are used to walking and do not feel afraid .Even if you meet a bunch of men whistling and laughing loudly, you just pretend you didn’t hear them, and walk over quickly in an open and frank manner, without chaotic footsteps, without blushing, and without turning your eyes, so others just make fun of them Just a few words, no teasing.She arrived in the town very smoothly, and when she was buying colored thread, she asked the thread seller about the shops in the town, and within an hour, she had already bought everything.

This town is actually very small. You can see the end of the town from the beginning of the town at a glance. There are several shops that can be counted with ten fingers, but there are many small vendors selling goods along the street.When Chunying passed by a "Changshun Inn", she thought of Hu Fei. She didn't know which inn he was staying in these days, so she made a special inquiry and found out that there were two chariot and horse shops in this town, but only an inn.

This inn is very small, with only four guest rooms. The owner is also the shopkeeper and accountant. Earn more money.In the past few years, because more nobles have gone hunting in the nearby Nanyuan, and occasionally there will be attendants and long-term attendants of big families coming to live, the income is much better than before, but whether it is accommodation conditions or food, it cannot compare with the inns in the capital. .

After Chunying heard this, she felt sorry for Hu Fei, but unfortunately her newly bought house didn't have any spare room, even if she had, it was not easy to entertain him, what should I do?All the way back home, she was thinking about how to make arrangements so that Hu Fei could live comfortably without causing people to gossip.

When she got home, she was already sweating profusely. Before she could catch her breath, she saw her brother-in-law talking to a woman by the door.That woman is from the village, she has a bit of a tongue, and she always likes to gossip.When Chunying heard her ask "Is the house a gift from someone else", she perked up and prepared to defend herself.

Lu Renyi didn't give her this chance, but said to the woman solemnly: "How can I?! This is a house I asked a friend to buy! It is specially for my husband's family. My husband and I live a good life in the capital. Don't you want to watch your father-in-law's family suffer? I can't help you with other things, and it's okay to buy a house and be filial. Madam, don't talk nonsense!"

The woman smiled sarcastically, turned her head and saw Chunying coming, she blushed, said hello indiscriminately, and left.Chunying stared at her for a few times, then turned around, and smiled at her brother-in-law embarrassedly: "Thank you, brother-in-law, for troubling you..."

"What did the silly girl say?!" Lu Renyi was unhappy, "I also want to thank Brother Hu for giving me this credit! It's the same... so what... he is thoughtful about everything, but I Those who only know how to give things away are really ashamed. You just need to thank him."

Chunying's face flushed: "He just bargained with someone to buy a house. The renovation work was done by my brother-in-law himself. Of course I have to thank my brother-in-law." After finishing speaking, she felt that her tone was not strong That's right, I looked up at Lu Renyi, saw his face clearly being joking, blushed even more, and hurriedly said: "Just now, Cai Niang told me to buy wine and meat, brother-in-law, let's have an extra drink tonight." Then he ran into the kitchen.

Not to mention that Lu Renyi ate wine and meat at his father-in-law's new house that night, so he borrowed the house of the man in the village for one night, and came to say goodbye the next day.Chunying still lived in the same room with Shi'er, and when she heard her talk about the interesting things she met in the village, she was a little absent-minded. She thought of Hu Fei again, and wondered if he hadn't come back for four or five days, and she didn't know What are you up to...

"Hello!" Shi'er came over and hit her with a handkerchief, and she woke up with a startled smile, "I'm sorry, what did you say just now?"

Ten'er said angrily: "I think you've lost your soul, what's the matter?! He'll be back soon! You're moving away soon, I want to talk to you more, why are you so distracted?"

Chunying looked embarrassed, and whispered: "Although I have moved, it is only so far away. When do you miss me, it is very convenient to come here."

"That's different!" Shi'er pouted, "We've lived in the same house for a few years, and you're so willing?!"

Chunying hurriedly apologized to her: "I was wrong, I apologize to you, don't be angry with me. I will concentrate on listening to what you have to say."

Shi'er smiled instead: "Forget it, I just want to talk to someone because I have nothing to do, and I don't know when I've become a talking point! Just sit down, I'm going to go out for a walk and get some air." Said Then he opened the door and went out.

Chunying stayed in the room alone, holding a newly embroidered tiger head hat in her hand, she couldn't help being dazed.Suddenly, someone shouted from outside: "Is Aunt Lu at home?" She quickly got up and opened the door, and seeing Mrs. Zhao San came, she replied, "My mother is at the opposite door. What's the matter with Mrs. Zhao?"

"What's the matter?!" Mrs. Zhao walked up to her hand with a smile, "There is a window in my house, and the paper pasted on it is broken. I heard that you bought white paper for pasting the window yesterday, so I want to ask for two. Go back, girl, don't blame me for being thick-skinned."

Chunying smiled and said: "What's the matter? It's just a few pieces of paper. It's just that the things are not here. Wait a minute, sister-in-law. I'll go back as soon as I go." After saying that, she put down her tiger hat, went out to her new home, and put away the leftovers from yesterday. Rolled up a few pieces of paper, and then came back and handed it to the other party: "Sister-in-law, take a look, is it still useful?"

"It's useful!" Mrs. Zhao San took the paper, glanced at it a few times, and said with a smile, "Sister Lu's family is really not simple. I heard that you went to the town alone yesterday! The girl's house in the village , there are also some people who walk to the town to go to the market without the company of their elders, but you are a girl who served the master in the Hou's mansion since childhood, how can you get used to these dirt roads in the countryside? How dare you go so far alone when you leave the village for the first time , and have everything set up? Really capable!"

Chunying smiled: "What's the matter? I was naughty when I was young, so where can I not go? Besides, from here to the town, there is a road all the way. I asked the old man in the village, and I dared to go out only when I knew there was no danger. .Since the daughters of other families dare to do this, if my sister-in-law praises me for my ability, I should blush."

"The daughters of the other family are from the local area, and they all know the path. What's so special about them daring to walk? I just admire the girl's courage! To tell you the truth, I have been here for so many years, and I haven't walked this road alone! Sister... ..."

Before Sansao Zhao finished speaking, she was interrupted by a cry from outside the door.It was the voice of a young man called "Uncle Lu". Chun Ying hurriedly went out to have a look. Seeing the man's face, she couldn't help being startled: "Aren't you..." She couldn't help but mutter in her heart: What is this man here for?
When the man saw Chunying, he came over in surprise: "You are Uncle Lu's youngest daughter, right? Do you recognize me? I am the youngest son of the Mu family. Good girl, where is your father?"

(End of this chapter)