Chapter 19: Building the House

The family arrived at Widow Wang’s house, a sturdy brick and tile building standing before them. Most houses in the village were made of stone; few had such grand tiled roofs.

“Her husband used to be a miner. He earned some money and built this house, but a few years later, he died in the mine, leaving just the two orphans and their widowed mother to fend for themselves.”

Gu Wenran had lived in the Feng Tian Brigade for five years and had often heard rumors about Widow Wang. Relatives tried to seize her house, resorting to despicable tactics to pressure the mother and daughter.

“Sister Wang, thank you for taking us in today. We’ll leave tomorrow. Here’s some food for tonight.”

In those days, people usually brought their own rations when traveling—food was scarce in every household, and no one willingly allowed others to feast freely.

“You’re welcome. And thank you for saving my son.”

After dinner, Gu Wenran helped clean Widow Wang’s yard. The flood had left behind foul-smelling mud that, if not promptly cleared, could breed bacteria.

She planned to go to the mountains the next day to gather some antibacterial herbs as a precaution against infections.

Hu Ailian, seeing Gu Wenran tidying the yard, rose and headed to her elder uncle’s house.

Along the way, she saw many villagers cleaning their yards. The floodwaters had submerged their homes; many houses had collapsed. Everyone was bitterly complaining about the unfairness of fate.

At her uncle’s house, a family was shoveling out mud inside. When they saw Hu Ailian, they sat down on stools in the yard.

“Uncle, the house has collapsed. We really have nowhere to live.”

Before she finished speaking, Zhou Zuo’s wife, Wang Chunhua, objected. They had people coming to stay at her home, and she worried about how much grain they’d consume.

“Aunt, don’t mind my wife’s harsh words. Everyone’s suffered from the flood, and there’s truly no place to put more people. Look, even our kitchen has collapsed and the grain is soaked. We simply can’t accommodate you.”

Zhou Dabo was embarrassed hearing his daughter-in-law’s words.

“Quiet. Go inside and work.”

Hu Ailian understood the misunderstanding and remained calm. “Brother, I’m thinking of building a house in a few days. I want to ask you to help find some workers—quick and efficient ones. I’ll pay two yuan a day and provide meals. They should live nearby since we have nowhere else to stay.”

Hearing this, Zhou Dabo blushed even more—the family had no intention of living with him.

Wang Chunhua’s eyes lit up at the mention of wages. She grabbed Hu Ailian’s hand.

“Aunt, I’m sorry for earlier. I was just scared by the flood. Look at Zhou Zuo; he’s good at masonry. Let him work for you. I’ll cook for you then.”

Wang Chunhua’s intentions were clear on her face. Zhou Zuo, seeing his aunt staying silent, felt ashamed and, pulling Wang Chunhua, headed inside.

“Why are you pulling me? I’m talking to aunt here.”

Zhou Zuo snapped at her and finally quieted down.

“Brother, I’ll head back first. This matter is urgent. Our family is staying at Widow Wang’s, and I don’t want to trouble her.”

“Alright, I’ll ask around the village tomorrow and find someone efficient for you.”

After Hu Ailian left, she ran into Zhou Jinsheng in a hurry.

“Aunt, my father asked me to tell you to go to the fields early tomorrow to clear the mud.”

“Got it. Hurry up and get to work.”

Passing the educated youth camp, she saw Shen Simin lying in a man’s arms. Hu Ailian’s impression of her worsened.

Shen Simin had caught a cold and fever during recent rains. While others fled the flooding, she was still dazed and asleep, left behind at the camp, almost drowned. Now that everyone had returned, she was playing the fragile victim, seeking sympathy.

Zhao Huiya saw Wang Jianhua holding Shen Simin and wished she could tear her apart. Out of all the families in the camp, Wang Jianhua’s was the most well-off, and yet he had been seduced by this sly temptress. She was shameless.

Unaware of the poor impression she left on Hu Ailian, Shen Simin nestled contentedly in Wang Jianhua’s arms.

Hu Ailian returned to Widow Wang’s and told Gu Wenran to prepare to build a house the next day.

“I’ll draw up the plans.” Of course, Gu Wenran would design her first home herself. The traditional three-room tiled house no longer sufficed.

It had to be a two-story small Western-style house, but not too flashy—she had to design it well.

“Wenran, tomorrow go to your elder brother’s house and check if the flood has receded and how the house is.”

Yangshu Brigade was some distance from Feng Tian, separated by a drainage ditch. Since she had taken measures to divert water, the flood shouldn’t have reached her home.

“Got it, mother. I’ll rest now. Tomorrow we’ll set up a temporary shelter at home. We can’t keep imposing on others.”

Hu Ailian felt awkward too and decided to take a day off work tomorrow. She asked Zhou Jun from the second uncle’s household to build a makeshift house with boards.

The next morning, Gu Wenran gave the rations to Widow Wang. After packing up, they cleaned the mud off the ground and salvaged a cabinet from the ruins. Gu Wenran planned to visit her brother’s house.

“Is my sister home?” Gu Tiezhu’s voice came from outside the door.

“Brother, what brings you here?”

Gu Tiezhu entered the yard carrying food. “It’s been raining these days. I was worried about floods here, so I came to check. The rain hasn’t stopped, and I was uneasy about your sister-in-law. I’m free today, so I came to see.”

When Hu Ailian came back from work and saw her elder brother there, she quickly sent Zhou Qing to town to buy meat.

“Aunt, no need. I see your house has collapsed. Just come stay at ours.”

Hu Ailian didn’t want to trouble others. “No, Zhou Jun will come to build a house soon.”

Gu Wenran thought that during construction, the two children couldn’t stay here with them.

“Brother, can you help look after Yubao and Yaya?”

“Of course.” Gu Tiezhu only had this one sister and would do anything for her.

“Brother, we’re planning to build a house tomorrow. There are things I don’t understand. Can you go to town with me this afternoon?”

“Building a house? That’s no small matter. Do you have the money? I haven’t touched the money from last time. I’ll bring it back for you.”

Gu Wenran felt warmth in her heart. Without saying a word, her brother gave her everything.

“Brother, I have the money. It’s just some details I don’t understand. Let’s go to town this afternoon to look at bricks and sand, so we can buy them in advance and start tomorrow.”

“No problem. The house we built ourselves is solid. It’s just an earth house, but sturdy and windproof in winter.”

Gu Wenran suddenly remembered the continuous rain these past days and wondered if her brother’s house had leaked.

“Brother, why not build another small one for yourself? That way, you won’t worry about leaks when it rains.”

Gu Tiezhu wanted to, but the family’s money had to go toward his wife’s childbirth and sending Maomao to school.

“My house is still livable. No need to build now. Let’s go to town quickly. If we’re late, it’ll be dark.”

Gu Wenran had her brother set up a large stove in the yard, planning to cook here for the next few days.

The two walked toward town. Passing by Daqingshan, Gu Wenran heard a familiar voice again, and excitement surged in her heart.

“Sister, hurry up! There’s a wolf!”

Gu Tiezhu grabbed a stick and pulled Gu Wenran away quickly.

“Don’t go to town alone in the future. It’s dangerous. I can’t always protect you, so take care of yourself.”

His words warmed her again—this was the bond of blood, strong and unbreakable.

Gu Wenran linked arms with Gu Tiezhu.

“Brother, you’re so good to me. Sister-in-law is lucky to have married you.”

Gu Tiezhu looked at his childish sister with helplessness. Though married, she still liked to act spoiled.

What Gu Tiezhu didn’t know was that his sister had already left this world, having paid dearly for her recklessness.

Arriving in town, the two first looked at bricks, realizing that building a house was no easy task.