CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 109: THE NEW COURTYARD (PART 1)

It was past two in the morning when Ping’an woke up on time with a loud "wah," startling Zhang Guoqing, who looked to his left and couldn’t find his son, making him sweat in fear. He turned over to see Zhou Jiao feeding their son with sleepy eyes; the two foolishly stared at each other for a moment before Zhou Jiao snapped out of it and told him to sleep first. She would go back to sleep after Ping’an finished eating and changed his diaper.

Zhang Guoqing watched her with eyes wide open, seeing her confidently burp their son after he was full, gently patting his little back to prevent milk from spilling. This made him feel reassured.

When the rooster crowed, Zhang Guoqing woke up and checked his watch; it was just past four. He didn’t plan to get up so early today, so he lay quietly in bed, closed his eyes to rest, dozed off for a while, and woke up at 5:30 before getting up gently to put on his clothes. Watching the two of them cuddling together, he smiled cheekily before carefully walking out the door.

After washing up, he changed into patched clothes, took the dirty clothes and pants, along with his son’s diapers, to the well to wash, and hung them on the bamboo pole in the courtyard to dry.

He went to the backyard, saw them pulling weeds and fertilizing, greeted them from a distance, and picked up a shovel to loosen the soil, breaking the clumped dirt, and threw away the old grass roots. The four of them, father and sons, busied themselves with the backyard. They returned to the main room to listen to Mr. Zhang’s rough plans for the day.

After breakfast, Zhang Guoqing went back to the room to see Zhou Jiao was already up and had breakfast, sitting in the living room, humming children’s songs while holding their son.

"Jiao Jiao, I need to help with the new house next door this morning. If you need anything, have Xi Zi and the others call me. After lunch, I need to return the car to the provincial city and drop by the principal in the county to inquire about college entrance examination matters. See if there’s anything you need to bring, jot it down on a note, and give it to me when I return at noon." Zhang Guoqing said while checking the coal in the stove.

He picked up the fire tongs, went outside to get a piece of coal, came back to replace the burnt coal at the bottom of the stove, poked it in the opening, and placed white fungus on the coal stove.

"Remember there are two boiled eggs in the kettle; eat them later. Also, drink the white fungus soup. Don’t do any work yourself; have them call me." Zhang Guoqing tidied up and, not at ease, gave instructions once more.

After she responded, he kissed the mother and son, reluctantly leaving.

The two courtyards quickly took shape in just a few days. Many people gathered around to work busily. In between the two courtyards, there was a large pile of blue stones, earth bricks, and straw materials. Early in the morning, people were coming in from the foot of the mountain carrying rocks. In the main house and the east and west wings of the two courtyards, you could see the apprentices of the stonemason masters bustling around instructing the helpers. From afar, it looked like a race, with no one taking a break, fiercely rushing the work.

Looking at the two courtyards, Zhang Guoqing raised his eyebrows in surprise, was this splitting classes at the same time?

Zhang Guoqing greeted everyone with a smile and quickly walked over to Mr. Zhang. Listening to the stonemason masters and Mr. Zhang talking, he had some understanding.

This morning, he worked on making earth bricks with Da Ni. He watched as Mr. Zhang and the others were busy mixing those clays, straws, hemp, mud, and sand with water, and then mixing them into slurry, the more sticky, the better.

He didn’t understand, doing whatever he was told, just felt that the more mixed, the stickier, the stickier, the more tiring, and that they had to add water repeatedly. Four or five people worked hard shoveling and mixing. Eventually, they didn’t want to talk, holding their breath to work. This work had to be done continuously, working with the stonemasons.

Zhang Guoqing looked not far away at the small courtyards gathered in threes and twos. He suddenly understood why in the village, those households with few strong laborers couldn’t build houses, with three generations sleeping on a single bed. I bet it’s because working with Da Ni is too exhausting. Even when you have blue stones, earth bricks are still labor-intensive work and must be prepared in advance.

At home, working with Da Ni, it was his own brothers doing the work. In the past few days, his elder brother and second brother, along with some cousins, took care of this work entirely. I bet the brothers could barely lift their arms, persevering with effort.

He planned to talk to his father secretly after lunch. To find a few families in difficulty, it wouldn’t delay their work; just come early in the morning to help. Just prepare and wait for the masters to come. Or ask if the masters know anyone specializing in this, and recommend them more. Don’t discuss the money with the second brother; he’ll secretly give it. Otherwise, continuing like this would be unprofitable.

Watching his father and uncle making earth bricks, working similarly to the others, all were holding their breath, working strenuously. The repetitive mechanical work made his thoughts wander far, silently pondering many things repeatedly. Like how much time would be spent living in this house once completed? If it weren’t the roots of the old home, he really hadn’t planned to build it. But this house is different, it’s given to him by his father. During holidays and ancestor worship, he needs to come back; it’s their roots, his and Ping’an’s, and those of future children and descendants.

Calculating the money on his hands, spending on ginseng, fur, and miscellaneous things, those 2800 yuan now had less than 2000 yuan. He hadn’t planned on selling the game hunted before the New Year. Now it’s too late to buy, who would sell? Meaning no income.

He finally decided to buy a small courtyard in the county town, only needing safety and quietness. Also, to find Zhao Dashan about settling the work issue, and conveniently inquire about nearby houses. As for Zuo Lin, wait for the father-in-law to return, then find an opportunity to bring up the second brother’s matter.

Zhang Guoqing continued to work mechanically hard, his mind wandering widely without knowing where his thoughts led. Others looking at him felt this Xiao Wu from Zhang Family was a good lad. Look at him, working so vigorously. One person compared to three. Thought it would be different from usual.

Look, still the same as earlier. Seeing someone, he would call them grandpa, uncle, brother. Very warm, with no hint of neglect. Speaking politely, working without slacking off.

Even the stonemason master, who rarely praised, secretly admired Zhang Dayou, patting Zhang Dayou: "Brother, your sons are outstanding, you’re fortunate. Look at those three sons of yours. Then look at your little Wu, whatever this kid does, he’s exceptional. Even when he’s successful, he doesn’t change his true self. Used to hear people say your little fifth child was praised highly. Turns out not exaggerated. A good boy."

Zhang Dayou laughed heartily, his mouth curled up high, everyone could see his pride. Modestly saying: "It’s just like that. Growing up in the countryside, just have a bit of strength, nothing exceptional."

In this hundred-mile radius, from when Zhang Guoqing’s grandfather headed Old Zhang’s family to now the fifth generation of descendants. Within ten miles around, who doesn’t praise the Zhang Family’s good traditions?

After separation, Zhang Dayou and his three brothers continued to support each other. In Zhang Guoqing’s generation, there were ten or so siblings, none were lazy or disobedient. Mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law got along harmoniously.

His grandfather set the rule when alive, except for the eldest son following parents, other children would separate and live alone after marrying for a year. Not only were the relationships between sisters-in-law in each household harmonious, the mothers-in-law were all reasonable and gentle.

Just this separation, families with daughters loved and willingly formed marriages with them. Sadly, their parents in all three households mainly choose daughters-in-law based on the children’s will. Saying after marriage they live their lives, unless the other is truly troublesome with bad reputation.

Historically, marriage was parent-controlled. But in Old Zhang’s family, children made the decision. What was more helpless was Zhang Family’s children stood out one after another, with good character, never casually talking to girls. Especially after Zhang Guoqiang from Zhang the Second’s family married the mismatched Lin Juhua, made poor families with daughters eye Zhang Family. Sadly even the youngest Zhang Guoqing married. It’ll be many years until the grandchildren are grown. Making countless families with daughters secretly resentful.

The Zhang Family’s grand affair, suddenly building two big courtyards, heard they were as large as the old courtyard. Didn’t stop villagers from speculating about Zhang the Second’s family wealth secretly. These weren’t just ordinary earth brick houses, like looking at piled large blue stones and earth bricks. Even the previous landlords weren’t this lavish. This wasn’t a straw hut, it was an impressive large courtyard. Heard that in Old Zhang’s family when the old man was alive, they went to the provincial city to learn specifically. Why do several households at the foot of North Mountain marry daughters from good families? Just the courtyard shows the family’s prosperity.

Some households with family wealth in the village looked at their sons due to marry, pondering to build courtyards at the foot of North Mountain. Also, the younger generation who hadn’t seen Mr. Zhang’s three brothers build courtyards originally, secretly observing Old Zhang’s family courtyards.

Temporary, the new courtyards had more and more people coming and going almost daily, with folks helping during spare time.