Chapter 28 Hoarding firewood & remaining indoor during winter

However, they have heard a bit from Second Sister-in-law Zhou, that there were a coal stove and coal, as well as a new pot!

Last time Lin Qing He did to buy rice, but it was only a few jins, and it was very expensive. It also required a lot of food coupons. But it happened long time ago, how could there any left?

Needless to say, she must have bought a lot from the county city yesterday.

Putting aside the sesame seeds, there were ribs. This was too gluttonous. Their team had not divided meat yet!

The last time they ate meat was when they finished the autumn harvest last year!

Here, they divided the meat twice a year, once during this period, and again before the New Year.

Then it will be next year.

But look at Lin Qing He acting like this, this was obviously being rich and willful!

“There are still some at home, but not much.” Zhou Da Wa’s eyes spun before he answered.

Nobody doubted that a five-year-old kid will tell lies. After all, such rice was not easy to buy. Many people eat it in the county city, while the villagers don’t eat it.

Because it was too expensive and can be compared with white flour. So who would have more spare money to buy it? And what’s more, it needed food coupons!

At the end of the year, the ration coupons get distributed. But these coupons do not include food coupons, only imported oil coupons, and cotton coupons.

Around six o’clock, Zhou Dong was back with two bundles of firewood.

Lin Qing He wanted to settle the firewood money, but Zhou Dong did not accept it.

Last night the brother and sister duo brought the quilt home in the dark. It was really a good quilt, so warm and soft. It wasn’t like their family’s quilt. Not only were they old, but also dry and hard. Although they were better than nothing, it really didn’t keep warm.

The quilt Lin Qing He gave was obviously very new. At least with such a quilt, his sister didn’t need to freeze this winter.

As for him, it was okay. He was more resistant to cold.

After taking Shenzi’s quilt, how could he accept payment again? In fact, he planned not to accept money for the firewood he brought back.

“If you don’t accept it, I don’t want this firewood.” Lin Qing He declared.

“Shenzi …”

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Dong was interrupted by Lin Qing He: “Shenzi’s quilt can’t be used. If I can use it, I won’t have to give it. So no need to be concerned about it. And also you helped me transport my food back today and Little Xi is helping to make the boys’ shoes and socks at home now. You don’t need to get even with me. One matter for one matter.”

Then she stuffed him with three dimes: “Remember, when winter wheat is planted, you have to gather firewood back.”

“Shenzi …”

“Hurry back to get something to eat. You have been busy for a whole day.” Lin Qing He said. Then she closed the door, not bothering with Zhou Dong.

It was pretty late now. Just six o’clock and it was already cold. The sky also turned gray.

There wasn’t much kerosene left at home. Only a little more than half jin per month. How could that be enough?

The next time she finds Mei Jie to buy meat, she must ask her if she had any channels. She must prepare more kerosene for her home.

Lin Qing He took this opportunity to boil water for the boys at this time.

Although the bath was once every three days, the hands and feet had to be washed every day.

After washing, she shooed all three of them to go on the Kang.

She lit the faint kerosene lamp and then continued to knit sweaters.

Da Wa blurted out: “Mother, earlier when playing at the entrance, someone asked me if there is any rice in my house. I said there’s not much left at home.”

“Smart.” Lin Qing He gave him an admiring look.

“Hehe.” Da Wa grinned.

Only then Lin Qing He recalled it. Now the grain had been distributed, even if the atmosphere was very good nowadays and many people don’t even need to close the door, Lin Qing He still felt that it was better to defend against the just in case.

So after waiting three days, she told Zhou Xi her plans when she came over.

Zhou Xi had hurriedly made shoes and socks for Da Wa and his brothers these three days just so she can go out with her elder brother to get firewood tomorrow.

Lin Qing He said: “Let your elder brother find some villagers to go together, like two more partners. When the time comes, let your elder brother give them some effort money and you don’t have to go. You stay behind to guard the house.”

There were also some people in the village who have unclean hands and feet. The brother and sister relied on that food for the whole year.

Zhou Xi froze: “Shenzi, there shouldn’t be any matter.”

“Under normal circumstances, there aren’t. But this kind of thing, there’s always an in case. Let your elder brother find someone else. Others can sell up to two bundles of firewood at the end of the day. At that time, tell your elder brother to equally split. You don’t need to go,” Lin Qing He explained.

Zhou Xi heeded her words and nodded when she said it so seriously.

Once she got back, she told her brother. Hearing this, Zhou Dong also felt that it was better to leave one person at home, so he went out to find his partner.

Zhou Dong was a hardworking and diligent person and had good partners in the village. In this kind of matter, he went to find his best partner. He found two and said that he’ll evenly split.

When the two partners heard that they were selling to Lin Qing He, they naturally had no objections.

They also go find firewood and sell it. They gathered two bundles of firewood to sell in the county city and get almost three dimes. But the county city was very far away. They were very envious of Zhou Dong.

He can directly carry back to the village and sell it to Fourth Shenzi Zhou. He didn’t have to travel that far and stay in the county city for a long time. Sometimes, if they bump into in one or two stingy people, they may not be able to earn for three dimes.

But Fourth Shenzi Zhou didn’t want anyone else’s. She was afraid that she labeled as someone using finance to make people slaves. Only wanting Zhou Dong’s, was to let the brother and sister be able to have an extra meal. This way, nobody can talk about her.

“Shenzi requested me to get it, but I couldn’t get it all by myself, so I found you. You better not talk nonsense, otherwise, I won’t find you for such good matters in the future.” Zhou Dong said.

“That’s a must!” His two partners immediately promised.

Only fools would this kind of randomly wagging their tongues. Although Shenzi was a big spender, she didn’t do anything to the villagers. She didn’t go out much.

The next day before sunrise, they dragged Zhou Dong’s cart and headed out.

They came back after three o’clock in the afternoon with a cart full of firewood. They were all bundled up properly. In total, thirteen bundles of firewood!

The cart was piled high and transported to the door.

Zhou Dong brought it over on his own. His two partners did not come, because this was Zhou Dong’s work and they profit from it.

Lin Qing He was a bit surprised. She had thought that it would seven or eight bundles at most. She did not expect them to bring that much back.

She got Zhou Dong to move the thirteen bundles of firewood to the fire shed in the backyard. She went in and brew a cup of brown sugar water for Zhou Dong. Zhou Dong was embarrassed. Lin Qing He asked him to drink it before she settled the payment.

Thirteen bundles of firewood totaled two yuans for Zhou Dong.

The action displayed no stinginess, as this was the source for her family’s firewood for isolating indoor during this year’s winter.

Knowing her temperament, Zhou Dong embarrassedly headed over to split up with his two partners.