Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 17: 17 change roof

Since the hardest work has been done, a group of people started working with the mud.

Su Yuanyuan had nothing to do with it, so she and Hu Chunhua continued pushing the cart of loess back.

The men knew the little girl still wanted to plaster the walls, so they let the two of them continue pushing.

Yang Minggang brought in some hardworking people, and they all knew what to do. A platform was set up below.

Someone below was responsible for transporting mud up to the platform, and those on the platform transported it to the rooftop.

Su Yuanyuan watched. She really couldn’t do this work. By noon, the rooftop was finished, and everyone needed to go back to eat.

”Yuanyuan, do you want to come home with me to eat?”

”Aunt, I won’t go. My own meal is almost ready.”

After sending off the workers, Su Yuanyuan quickly started a fire and pretended to cook porridge in a big pot.

However, she didn’t eat it herself; she gave it all to the greedy little goat.

With this little body, by the end of the morning, she really couldn’t move her legs. Just as she lay down to rest, she heard noises outside.

Going out, she saw people were already mixing mud again.

Su Yuanyuan joined in to fetch water, the two of them worked in silence, but both were busy.

In the afternoon, it was time to plaster the walls. Because there was a lot of mud prepared, the mud on the walls was plastered on thick.

Before it got dark, the walls were finished. Some mud was left, but it wasn’t needed anymore.

Su Yuanyuan took out three dollars and fifty cents, handed it to Hu Chunhua, ”Aunt, this is for you seven people. Don’t refuse. If it was just me, I couldn’t have done it. I’m already very grateful.”

”It’s not a big deal for you, but for me, it’s a lifesaver. So thank you, uncles.”

Her words were well spoken, pleasing to hear, so Hu Chunhua did not refuse anymore.

Su Yuanyuan stood in the courtyard, looking at the house. Maybe it was psychological, but she felt the house had become much sturdier.

Even if there was heavy snow in winter, she wouldn’t be afraid. At least this winter, she could live in peace. Tomorrow, she still had to go up the mountain. There was still too much firewood needed.

In the evening, she treated herself to a bowl of braised pork on rice, a salted egg, and a cup of egg drop soup. Life wasn’t lacking in any way.

She was so tired from the day that when she opened her eyes, it was already daylight.

The greedy goat was already bleating; there was no choice but to get up and take care of it.

”You, watch the house well. I’m going up the mountain. I still have to prepare your winter grass.”

Yesterday, she found the machete very useful and felt she wanted one again.

After heading up the mountain, she continued collecting firewood. This time, she went further in and found many good things. There were lots of wood ear mushrooms. These wild wood ear mushrooms growing on trees were non-toxic and safe to eat. She thought about frying eggs with the mushrooms, which was a very good idea.

She gathered two more withered trees, but chopped off all the branches. This way, she could bring them back and leave them in the courtyard, making it more straightforward to use.

Tomorrow, she’d collect firewood again, and the day after, she’d start picking pine cones. Thinking about the oily pine nuts, they really were quite tasty. They could be eaten as a snack or given to the greedy goat.

In the evening, as she descended the mountain, near the foot, she pulled out two withered trees and slowly dragged them home.

The usually quiet courtyard saw the goat pacing back and forth in the pen as it saw Su Yuanyuan return.

”Wait a bit, I’m too tired right now. I’ll come take care of you in a moment.”

The next day was the same. Several withered trees were already piled up in the courtyard, and she thought maybe she could ask Hu Chunhua if there was a saw tomorrow. Using an axe was too laborious.

Lying on the kang, Su Yuanyuan thought about the things prepared for winter, realizing she was still missing cotton clothes.

There’s no rush for that; she had already asked around at the market last time. The market was every five days, and tomorrow was the market day. She could go to the market again. But since she couldn’t make cotton clothes herself, she didn’t know how much cotton and fabric to buy. She’d still have to trouble others for help.

There was no way around it; she still needed to learn. It’s uncomfortable to ask others for help, but once learned, she wouldn’t need to rely on anyone.

Early the next day, she got ready and went looking for Hu Chunhua.

”Aunt, I want to go to the market today and would like you to come with me. My current cotton clothes are still cold. I want to buy some cotton and fabric. I can’t make them, and I need you to teach me.”

”Alright, I was actually thinking of calling you too. There’s cotton available in the village.”

”Aunt, if someone is selling in the village, I’d rather buy it here. It’s better if familiar people earn the money.”

”Come on, I’ll take you to ask. Their family has plenty of cotton and is thinking of selling it at the market.”

”That’s great! Saves me from buying outside.”

Hu Chunhua gained a new impression of this little girl; she was sensible, able to maintain good relations in the village.

Don’t underestimate these connections. In village life, if no one interacts with you, it could be troublesome. It’s not good to be so isolated, as people in the countryside say. If something happens, no one would lend a helping hand.

Su Yuanyuan followed Hu Chunhua to the southern end of the village.

”Qiuju, are you home?”

”Sister-in-law, what brings you here? Is there something you need? This is Yuanyuan, right?”

”Auntie, it’s me, Yuanyuan.” In her memory, this was Yang Peilin’s wife, Wang Qiuju.

”You two come inside.”

”Qiuju, we came to ask if you’re selling cotton. This girl has nothing. A few days ago, the heavens smiled upon her, and she has a bit of money now. She wants to make some cotton clothes.”

”Yes, our man has already gone to the market, but there are still some at home.”

”This girl heard you have cotton and decided not to buy at the market.” Hu Chunhua was kind-hearted, wanting to help the girl buy something good.

”Haha, Yuanyuan is sensible. Rest assured, Auntie will give you more.”

Su Yuanyuan just listened from behind, preparing to pay up.

After Wang Qiuju went inside, she had them sit down, then went to get the cotton, bringing a whole bag straight over.

”Sister-in-law, look at this cotton. It’s of the best quality; the usual ones I used at home.”

”Wow, your cotton is really good.”

”Of course, we’ve taken great care of it.”

”Qiuju, how much is the cotton per pound?”

”Our man sells it at one yuan and sixty cents per pound at the market. But since it’s for this girl, it’s one yuan fifty-five cents per pound.”

”Alright. This girl will need two pounds to make a set of cotton clothes, right?”

”Yes, two pounds will make it thicker. Since she’s making it, she should make it thick and a bit larger, so she can wear it for a few more years.”

”Auntie, how much cotton is needed for quilts?”

Hu Chunhua thought of the girl’s bedding and sighed, feeling that Su Daqiang really neglected this girl.

”Three pounds for a quilt, and one pound for a mattress is enough.”

Su Yuanyuan really had no concept, but since there was still quite a bit in her space, this was just to cover up. So she nodded obediently.

”Auntie, I’d like seven pounds of cotton. I also want to make a cotton hat and cotton gloves.”