Chapter 39: Rest on a Rainy Night

Chapter 39: Rest on a Rainy Night

The land, which had been dry for more than a month, finally welcomed the rain. The drizzle became heavier and heavier, and everything was wet.

Lin Youcai climbed onto the roof of the RV, untied the ropes, lifted the straw mat, and took down the wrapped quilt.

Lin Youfu, with his eldest son Dapeng and second son Dacheng, were downstairs to pick up the luggage.

Everyone was busy setting up the tent and hanging straw mats on all four sides. Holes were punched in the corners of the straw mats and the tent fabric, and ropes were passed through to tie them up.

Before leaving, Lin Youcai brought his own bedding and straw mats, and asked the Lin family to bring all the straw mats in their home.

Every household has straw mats and can make them. They don't have to be exquisite, as long as they can be used. Rural areas are basically self-sufficient, and weaving baskets, baskets, straw mats, and some handicrafts are not a problem. The elders teach the younger ones, and life skills are passed down from generation to generation.

The awning of the RV was opened, and straw mats were hung on three sides. There was nothing we could do about the wet ground, so we laid out the straw mats and then the blankets we brought with us.

I’ve been away for more than 20 days and this is the first time I’ve opened the bedding to use it.

The nights are no longer hot, and the old people murmured that every autumn rain brings a chill, and the weather will only get colder as it continues.

Lin Youcai held the two legs of the ladder of the roof tent and pulled it out with force. The tent was lowered along with the ladder, and the tent, which had been folded into two large pieces, was opened.

Lin Youcai climbed up the ladder, connected the poles, and set up the tent. Lin Xianwen climbed up the ladder at the rear of the car, connected the poles on this side, and set up the tent on this side. The two of them set up the tent in a few seconds. But tonight they couldn't sleep in the tent like in their previous life. They had to give it to the elderly, children, women and children, and they went down to sleep on the floor.

Seeing the shed popping up on the roof of the car, many people ran over to watch the fun.

Tian Daniu looked at the tent on the roof with a look of curiosity, and touched the ladder with a cool metallic texture and a silver glow under the firelight. "This Taoist priest's car is full of good stuff! This ladder is made of silver!"

"Uncle Daniu, silver is soft and easily deformed, how can it be made into a ladder? This is at most the outside of the wood, painted. Silver paint! It's not worth money!" Lin Xianwen lied with his eyes open, looking at everyone sincerely. In fact, this statement was thought of long ago. The metal ladder of the tent is retractable, wrapped with burlap on the top and bottom, and tied with ropes. But the two sections of the ladder that are pulled out in the middle cannot be covered with something. If they are wrapped with something, the thickness will increase, and the ladder cannot be retracted.

Lin Youcai pretended to be indifferent and continued, "Touch it and see if it's hard. How can silver be so hard? If the whole ladder is made of silver, I would have run away long ago. How much does it cost? It's just paint. They made it into this color just to look good." The ladder was not made of silver in the first place, and they didn't lie! It's just that this metal is more valuable than silver and gold in this world.

"What is lacquer?" Zhao Dazhuang asked the onlookers' thoughts.

"The utensils of the rich and powerful are painted with tree lacquer. They are very beautiful lacquerware, beautiful and durable. The lacquer that sheds from one tree turns into another color when applied. It's just like the wooden houses in the south are painted with tung oil, which is anti-corrosive and waterproof! Just like cutting a knife on the body of the Chinese pine tree, you can get pine resin underneath!" Old Man Shi explained to everyone. Old Man Shi is Lin Hongmei's father-in-law. Old Man Shi has been a carpenter all his life and has supported his family. His son Shi Yong inherited his craft and is also a carpenter.

"Oh~" Everyone responded with a half-understanding, somewhat understanding the meaning, but also a little unclear. They would never have the chance to see the things used by the rich and powerful in their lifetime. It was only when they fled with the Lin family that they were able to broaden their horizons.

In an era of information blockade, the lower-class people were basically illiterate, lived on a small piece of land every day, and knew very little.

Lin Youcai still took a piece of old burlap and wrapped the exposed ladder. For now, he was not worried about the people in the team, but he was worried about other refugees.

In front of everyone, Old Man Lin pinched it and tapped it with his fingernails, "If it were really silver, it would be great! I wouldn't have to worry about building such a big ladder!"

Old Lady Wang curled her lips and said, "You old man, you haven't even fallen asleep yet, but you're already having sweet dreams."

Everyone burst into laughter, and after watching the excitement, they went back to eat, and some went to build tents. Those who didn't have a carriage to sleep in had to make a nest to sleep in on rainy days, otherwise they would die on the road if they got caught in the rain and caught a cold.

People who have cars will put sticks as thick as arms on the car for emergency use. It is not easy to find suitable sticks and firewood in the wild. Sticks do not take up much space, so people who push carts will also bring a few sticks to support walking and to build a temporary shed.

Everyone pulled out wooden sticks as thick as arms from the cart and built a shed for the cows and mules; they couldn't let them get wet in the rain all night.

Livestock must be fed carefully, with clean water and grass. It is not enough to just eat grass, but also bran, salt, and some grain scraps.

They had to coax the animals when they were tired, and they dared not treat them badly. When the animals rested for an hour, they could also sit on the ground and rest for a while.

It's not just because livestock are expensive and ordinary people can't afford them, but also because now everyone relies on them to carry goods and people.

To be realistic, they are more precious than human lives at this moment.

Lin Zisu was lying on the small bed in the RV, listening to her father arguing with Old Lady Wang again.

There are advantages and disadvantages to traveling with a large group. Lin Zisu and Lin Xianwen feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. At least there is safety in numbers, and they don't have to worry about anything. Compared to when the two of them were driving the RV to escape, they were always worried and had to worry about all kinds of things. Now it's so cool.

I want to ask Lin Zisu's soul, is there any benefit in coming here?

Have.

I never have to worry about not being able to sleep, I always fall asleep as soon as I lie down.

After listening to a few words of the conversation between Lin Youcai and Old Lady Wang, she turned over and found Zhou Gong.

In the end, Grandma Wang compromised. Unable to convince her fourth son, she refused to let her three daughters-in-law and granddaughter sleep in such a nice rooftop tent.

The car roof tent is definitely for young people to sleep in, and it is safe to get in and out of. Lin Youcai was afraid that she would slip and fall down in the dark, so he tried his best to stop her.

Old Man Lin was too lazy to pay attention to her and went to sleep in the carriage.

After the cows and mules were unloaded from the cart, the front of the carriage was supported by a wooden rack. The working people are very wise.

When they stayed overnight for the first time, Lin Zisu saw them take out a wooden board from under the carriage and thought it was strange. But when they twisted the wooden board, it became three pieces of wood, forming a triangular wooden frame. She was amazed, it was magical! . . . .

The Lin family had two carriages, one for old man Lin and old lady Wang, and the other for the boys. On the roof slept the three daughters-in-law, Lu, Yang, and Feng, as well as the three girls, Cuihe, Xiatao, and Qiuyue. The 2-meter-wide and 1-meter-long roof tent could accommodate six people with more than enough space.

The tent was spacious, and not only the men of the Lin family slept under it. Lin Youcai called the two brothers-in-law and the eldest nephew of the Shen family, and the two servants Awang and Old Man Zhao to come and sleep with their own straw mats and bedding. The Shen family had two carriages, Old Man Shen, Old Lady Ye, and the little grandson slept in one, and the two daughters-in-law and two girls slept in the other.

Old Man Shi and his brother-in-law Shi Yong were also called over. They were all men, so they squeezed together to sleep. The Shi family had only one carriage, which also contained their belongings. Lin Hongmei slept in the carriage, holding her 4-year-old son.

The RV's awning has straw mats hanging on three sides, and can accommodate 7 or 8 adults, and even a few children if they squeeze in.

Lin Youcai thought of the poor mother and daughter who joined them halfway. They didn’t bring any luggage with them. It was okay because it was hot. They couldn’t sleep outdoors in this weather.

He went to say that it was strange, so he called Old Lady Wang and his wife Shen Xianglan to go with him, and walked around the team. If there were any women who had no place to sleep, he would let them bring their own bedding and mats to sleep.

All the mother and daughter had were the baskets they carried on their backs. The woman pulled her child with gratitude and followed Shen Xianglan to the awning of the RV. Three straw mats were enough on the ground. The other women and children had already laid out the mats and were laying out the bedding.

Old Lady Wang went to find Si'er and asked her to throw away the tattered quilt that she had patched up so much that she was reluctant to throw away, so she gave it to the mother and daughter.

Shen Xianglan looked at Old Lady Wang in surprise. She didn't seem to be so soft-hearted. She was planning to go to the car to look for the old bedding of the original owner and give it to the mother and daughter.

Old Lady Wang glared at her fourth daughter-in-law, "Why are you looking at me like this?"

"No, no, I'm just sleepy and I'm going to sleep. Mom, you should go and rest too." After saying this, Shen Xianglan took two steps to the passenger door, opened the door and stepped in.