Chapter 17 Build 4 Houses
Old Mrs. Shen told the old man about Gu Jiandong's going to the countryside. Old Man Shen nodded and said, "We have to take good care of the child.
When the time comes, let him live at home, eat and sleep at home, and we don’t have to worry about him being bullied.”
Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen have long regarded Gu Changfeng as their own son. Gu Changfeng is their son, and Gu Jiandong is their grandson. When their grandson goes to the countryside, they, as grandparents, will naturally protect him.
Old Mrs. Shen also wanted to let the child live in her house, but there was no extra room at home. "Old man, we don't have any spare room at home. Should we build another room?"
"We have to build more. We have to build four. Jiabao and his family are all going to get married, so we can't do without a house."
The eldest grandson is all grown up now. He can’t get married and still live in the same room with his parents.
They cannot build a house made of blue bricks and tiles, but they are capable of building four adobe houses.
"Old woman, pack your things and come with me to the second brother's house to talk to him about this."
Old Man Shen also has a younger brother named Shen Erzhu, who is the captain of the Shenjiaba Brigade.
The old couple chatted in the house for a while, and then Mrs. Shen took a basket, packed a few pieces of egg cakes, half a pound of brown sugar, and went out with the old man.
……
Military compound.
Su Yueru asked her husband with red eyes, "Changfeng, do you really want to be transferred to the Northwest?"
Gu Changfeng patted his wife's shoulder and said, "The transfer order will come soon. I am a soldier and must obey orders."
"But... you shouldn't go." Su Yueru knew very well what the Northwest was. Her husband had many old injuries on his body, and his body could not withstand going to such a harsh place.
"I've done pretty well. I'm still an official after all."
Since the leaders above have taken sides, he will be affected even if he wants to hide.
"Okay, stop crying. Life in the Northwest is not as hard as you think. Maybe I'll be back in a year or two.
You stay here steadily, don't worry about me, and don't worry about Jiandong, he is in the Shenjiaba Brigade, with Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen here, Jiandong will be fine."
Su Yueru punched her husband and said, "What are you talking about? Neither of you two is worry-free. How can I not worry about you?
Jiandong is in this state now, and he wants to go to the countryside. How can I, as a mother, feel at ease? "
"There's nothing we can do about it."
Su Yueru cried for a long time before she calmed down. "I want to go to the northwest with you. It's such a difficult place. I don't want you to be alone."
As for her son, she was also worried, but her son's life should be better in the countryside where Aunt Shen and Uncle Shen's family are living.
She is selfish and loves her husband more than her son.
Gu Changfeng didn't want his wife to suffer with him. "You are making trouble. Why don't you just be a good military doctor in the army? Why do you want to go to the Northwest with me? I don't agree with this."
"My son is going to the countryside soon. Please pack his things and send them to him in advance.
Send the prepared money and bills together and ask Shu Yu to keep them while I go and arrange some things."
His son's situation was special, so it was naturally impossible for him to work and earn work points to support himself like normal educated youth.
All he could do was to prepare enough money for his son so that he would have no worries about food and clothing in the countryside.
Su Yueru also knew that this was not a suitable time to grieve over the passing of time. She still had to cheer herself up and prepare everything for her son.
……
Mr. and Mrs. Shen went to Shen Erzhu's house, and when they came back they told their three sons and daughters-in-law about building four more houses.
They were naturally happy about building a house. When their son grew up and got married, he would need to live in a room of his own. Uncle Shen and Uncle Shen II had wanted to talk to their parents about this a long time ago.
Li Caixia smiled happily, "Dad and Mom, let's build a brick house, shall we?"
Old Mrs. Shen rolled her eyes at her second daughter-in-law and said, "You are dreaming. You will pay for the brick and tile house?
It’s good enough to have an adobe house to live in, and I picked it!”
"Hey, you are the head of this family, and you hand over all the money you earn. I don't have any money. The adobe house is good and comfortable to live in."
Li Caixia felt a little disappointed, but then she thought that the new house would not be lived in by her, but by her son and daughter-in-law, so it didn't have to be that nice, as long as it could shelter from the wind and rain.
Uncle Shen Sanbo and Li Zhaodi had nothing to be happy about. They had no sons, so they could not get any benefits from the house that was built.
Shen Xue was quite happy. She asked, "Mom and Dad, if you build four houses, can I live in one too?" After all, there are only three cousins in the family. If you build four houses, there will be one extra room, right?
Li Caixia was not happy. What did she mean by Shen Xue living in a room by herself? She also had a daughter. "What did you mean by you can live in a room by yourself? If you want to live in the extra room, you and Xiaoqiu should live together. You two sisters can live in one room."
Shen Xue disagreed. She finally had her own room, and she didn't want to share a room with Shen Qiu. "Second Aunt, Xiao Qiu lives well with you. She can't get used to sleeping in a room with me."
She had just said a few words when her second daughter-in-law and second granddaughter started arguing. Old Lady Shen slammed the table and said, "Who said there was an extra room? Changfeng's son will come to our Shenjiaba Brigade as an educated youth in a while. I have discussed with your father and decided to let the child live in our house, where he can eat and sleep."
Gu Changfeng is known to everyone in the Shen family. He is Shen Xiangbei's comrade-in-arms and they are very close friends. I heard that he is a high-ranking official now.
Li Caixia said with a smile, "Well, it's good to live at home. They are all our own children, so it's more comfortable to live at home."
Zhang Cuicui said, "My second brother's wife is right. They are all our children. We can't keep them living in the educated youth camp after they go to the countryside."
Liu Pandi rarely agreed with the two sisters-in-law, "Yes, yes, live in our house. We have a place to live."
She had heard from her mother-in-law that Gu Changfeng had a son who was very promising. If he lived in their house and her daughter Xue'er liked him, wouldn't she have a rich son-in-law?
Shen Xue's idea of living in her own house was dashed, and she felt completely demotivated.
It's the same again. The damn old man and old woman would rather build an extra house for others to live in than for their own granddaughter to live in.
Shen Shuyu is their granddaughter, but she is like a weed.
No one paid any attention to Shen Xue's unhappiness. The Shen family was very happy tonight.
Old man Shen discussed the preparations for making adobe bricks with his three sons and grandson.
Old Mrs. Shen and her three daughters-in-law told them about Gu Jiandong's special situation, so that when the children come home, they will not be able to control their words and hurt the children.
After hearing what the mother-in-law said, Zhang Cuicui, Li Caixia, and Liu Pan opened their mouths wide.
After a while, Liu Pandi blurted out, "What? Gu Changfeng's son is a fool?"
Shen Shuyu said in a cold voice, "Third Aunt, watch your words."
Old Lady Shen slammed the table heavily and said, "Old Third Wife, if I hear this a second time, you will go back to your parents' home."