CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 185: EVERYTHING IS READY

"Alright! That’s settled then! When we come to get the bricks, we’ll also bring it over! You can pay for it then!" Lin Xue nodded.

"But this..." Aunt Bai wanted to say something, but Director Bai stopped her.

"Wife, Comrade Xiao Xue is selling it to us for only two cents per pound!"

One sentence left Aunt Bai dumbfounded, as if a pie had fallen from the sky, and she was so overwhelmed with joy that she forgot to react.

"Comrade Xiao Xue, Comrade Xiao Zhang, although the payment for the rice isn’t due right away, the money for the bricks is needed now. Otherwise, I can’t haul it out from the brick factory!" Director Bai reverted to his businesslike demeanor.

Fifty thousand bricks cost one thousand two hundred and fifty yuan, which is no small amount!

"Alright! We have the money with us! Can we pay now?" Lin Xue asked.

"Sure! I have the receipt with me! If you pay now, I can give you the receipt right away!" Director Bai nodded.

He pulled out the receipt and a pen from his satchel.

Lin Xue quickly counted out one thousand two hundred and fifty yuan from her satchel and handed it to Director Bai.

Director Bai counted it several times before carefully putting it away, then issued a receipt to both of them.

"Comrade Xiao Xue! Bring this receipt and come to pick up the bricks in three days!" Director Bai instructed.

The brick factory is not responsible for delivery; you have to figure out how to transport it yourself.

People usually use ox carts, horse carts, or tractors to haul bricks.

Lin Xue was considering how, with so many bricks, even borrowing the team’s tractor would take several trips to finish the house.

But when she returned to town that evening, Zhang Yuan surprised her greatly.

Because Li Qiang is a team driver who operates a large truck specifically for hauling goods, when Zhang Yuan asked him, he readily agreed and even took care of the house construction for them.

He also helped arrange the materials needed for the house, from stones and tiles to nails, all taken care of.

This allowed Lin Xue to become the hands-off manager.

The best surprise was that he not only sorted out the firewood but also helped find coal, both anthracite and smokeless briquettes.

Lin Xue immediately bought three tons of anthracite, and since briquettes are handy for cooking, she bought a ton to store.

The yard was perfect for digging a cellar to store the coal without it oxidizing.

Originally, there was a small vegetable cellar in the east corner of the yard, but it was too small to hold much, so it needed to be expanded.

However, the cellar doesn’t take up yard space, so the yard remained spacious and tidy.

By the time everything was sorted, it was already three days later, and Lin Xue hadn’t returned home. The chicken farm was entrusted to Zhang Yuan to occasionally check on and update her.

With everything at the house in town sorted, on the fourth day, Li Qiang brought fifty thousand bricks to the village.

They were transported in two batches. The entire village was abuzz at the sight of so many bricks.

Everyone gathered at Lin Xue’s home to look, asking about everything, chirping non-stop.

Originally, Grandma Bai also wanted to go, but Grandpa Bai stopped her.

He told Grandma Bai that Daliang was not the same son as before and that they’d better not provoke him, or he wouldn’t be able to help if they landed in jail.

Gangzi was preparing for a blind date and was too busy to get involved.

During this time, Grandma Bai took great care of him, providing good food and drink and even introducing him to a potential wife. He started to appreciate his biological mother and no longer clamored to find Bai Xianglan.

"This girl Xiao Xue is really competent. Look at her, she’s building a big tile-roofed house now! So envious! I wish I had such a daughter!"

The villagers praised Lin Xue with envy etched on their faces.

Although Li Qiang brought back the bricks, there were not enough workers, so Lin Xue recruited a few people from the village, all of whom were exhausted by the end of the day.

She and Wang Cuihua cooked mixed grain buns, braised pork with cabbage and potatoes, and stir-fried a few dishes for them to eat.

Everyone felt completely satisfied after eating.

They all said, never forget to find them whenever there’s work in the future.

Lin Xue really did need these people’s help, because in a couple of days, the sand, cement, stones, tiles, and timber for the house construction would need to be hauled in, and helpers were needed.

Even though Li Qiang had found masons and carpenters, there was still a need for laborers.

She promised a wage of one yuan per day, settled daily, with lunch included, for whoever wanted to come work.

Hearing this exceeded the usual earnings for labor, so none were unwilling.

They all waited for the construction of Xiao Xue’s house to begin.

In the blink of an eye, a week had gone by, and all the building materials for the house were ready.

Just as Lin Xue got up and was about to make breakfast, Grandma Zhao from the west courtyard rushed over.

"Xiao Xue! Is Xiao Xue here?" Her voice reached even before she entered.

Lin Xue hurried out, worried something had happened to the chicken farm.

She had been busy with family matters recently and rarely went to check on it.

"Grandma Zhao, what’s happened that’s got you so anxious? Please come in and talk!" Lin Xue welcomed her in.

"No need to go in, hurry and come with Grandma!" She pulled Lin Xue by the hand to leave.

But the smile on Grandma Zhao’s face told Lin Xue that it was certainly the chicks hatching.

She relaxed and followed Grandma Zhao out.

"Grandma Zhao, are the chicks breaking out of their shells?" she asked as they walked.

"Clever girl! Definitely, the chicks are hatching! I went over early this morning, uncovered the quilts, and saw several chicks already breaking out of their shells, chirping joyfully! Now they just need feeding, that’s why I came to find you!"

Grandma Zhao spoke with growing excitement, having tended to them carefully for so long and finally seeing results was naturally thrilling.

"Then let’s call the team leader over later, and we should invite Mayor Guo to come and see! I’ll find someone to do it!" Lin Xue also smiled.

She was reassured now. With the chicks hatching, as long as they survived the fragile period and were well cared for, there’d be no issue.

"Alright, girl, you go ahead! Grandma needs to hurry back and watch over things!" Grandma Zhao released her upon hearing this.

She urged her to quickly go find people.

Lin Xue went to check on the chicks, saw that indeed one-fifth of them had started to hatch, and was reassured. She first contacted the team leader as this was a top priority for their team.

The team leader had to be informed.

Wang Jianjun, upon seeing the chicks, grinned from ear to ear.

Finally, both Mayor Guo and Secretary Li personally came to see, and Mayor Guo distributed chick feed, rice bran, as well.

They held a special commendation meeting for Lin Xue at the entire Chaoyang Commune, not only praising her but also rewarding her with a set of tin thermos flasks, enameled mugs, and enamel basins, plus fifty yuan.

The entire Fifth Team went, and many from other teams as well, all watching the radiant little girl smiling on stage. Many families with boys of marrying age began to consider matchmaking.

Mr. Bai Sr.’s eldest daughter, Bai Dajuan, who was married to the Second Team of Chaoyang Commune, seeing her big niece on stage, was bursting with pride.

"That’s my big niece! Impressive, isn’t she? She’s only fifteen and already a farm director!"

Even though they were in the same commune, since New Year, Bai Dajuan hadn’t returned home, so she knew nothing of what happened at home.

When she saw everyone’s envious and flattering expressions, it was immensely satisfying.

Even her previously disdainful mother-in-law and sisters-in-law started currying favor with her.