Volume 1 Chapter 68 Returning Home (Seeking Bookmarks)

  Wanli saw the topic resonate, and he also became enthusiastic, continuing to comment: "This Miss Shang has a lot of talent, not only is she eloquent, but her logic is clear and never forces her point or gets bogged down in nonsense. However, from her conversation, it can be discovered that she is a strong-willed person who doesn't easily accept outside opinions. She once hinted that as long as we provide technical support for her, that would be enough. I spoke a few more sentences to ensure thoroughness, and she showed an impatient expression, thinking I was being too verbose."

  "Isn't this young lady being too arrogant?" Chen Gonghui said with some concern: "She hasn't received professional training, nor does she want us to lend a hand to help her, what is she thinking?"

  Zeng Cheng smiled slightly and said, "Since it's arranged by Old Master Dai, it must be a sure thing. In my opinion, she doesn't have the ability to capture wolves or tigers, but she can win with her beauty and intelligence. Among the attendants around Yin Rugong, there should be someone who will be won over and used by her!"

  Ma Wanli clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother Zeng and I think alike. Miss Shang is likely to take advantage of the situation, as for the method, hehe, it's nothing more than using her charm to seduce people. You haven't seen Miss Shang, that glance, that swaying waist, will definitely make someone fall under her spell."

  Chen Gongpu nodded repeatedly, and solemnly said: "Wanli brother, when Shang Xiaojie returns to Beiping next time, you must introduce me on her behalf. I also want to experience that indescribable charm."

  "Alright, count me in." Zeng Che also joked.

  Hehe, haha, hehe, three men with strange expressions revealed their tacit understanding smiles once again.

  ………

  It's still that small courtyard, only lived for two or three days, shouldn't have any feelings, but Huang Li feels very close to it, after all, it's considered one's own home, being free and easy here is better than anything else.

  The small courtyard was very lively today, with Zhen Niang and her mother present, as well as He Dakuai, and some other workers known as the "coal black children".

  Beijing is very cold in winter, so Beijingers have the habit of "winter defense", and shaking coal balls is a big deal. Generally after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a string of camels carrying bags of coal ash to each household's door, the coal ash workers carry the coal ash into the house, pour it into the courtyard, and pile it up high. Then wait for a sunny day, three or five coal ash workers come with sieves, rakes, shovels, and two-claw hooks, with a piece of cloth wrapped around their heads, and a short, thick tobacco pipe inserted in their waistband or on top of their apron.

  It turns out that the coal-black child's technique of shaking coal balls is quite impressive, and can even be appreciated as a form of entertainment. The coal ash was spread on the ground, with a pit in the middle, and then water was added, followed by the pre-prepared yellow soil. Two big men started stirring it up. After stirring well, the muddy coal ash was evenly spread out on an empty space, forming a large cake-like shape, about one zhang square, smooth and shiny after being patted with a shovel.

  At this time, Coal Black had already sweated profusely, with black sweat dripping down his face. It was time to sit down and rest while smoking. After resting, the coal dust had slightly dried and solidified, so he used a shovel to cut it into small squares, just like a chef chopping vegetables or carrots with nimble hands. Then, he sat down, placed a small flower pot upside down on the ground, put a sieve on top of the pot, and another person scooped the coal dust squares into the sieve. They began shaking it, just like shaking a rattle drum during the Lantern Festival, slowly turning the squares into coal balls. Then they spread them out to dry in the sun. One sieve after another was shaken, one sieve after another was dried. It was such hard work, but the child watching from the side thought it was so much fun.

  In case the weather changes and rain is coming, Hei Zi still has to rush back to collect the coal, gather it up, cover it with something, otherwise the coal will be washed away by the rain and all their previous efforts will be in vain. They are happy to do all this for a little more drinking money. Once the coal is completely dry, they have to come again to collect it, only then can they consider it a complete job, well done, see you next year.

  When Huang Li walked into the yard, he happened to be making coal balls. Zhen Niang was in the house, Niu Niu was running around looking for something interesting, and He Da Kui was shouting loudly, urging everyone on, creating a lively scene.

  "Uncle is back! Uncle is back!" Niu Niu saw Huang Li walking into the yard and immediately excitedly shouted and ran over.

  "Hehe, Niu Niu has grown taller and more beautiful." Huang Li stretched out Niu Niu's head, gently pinched her cheeks, and said with a smile.

  He Daqi walked over with big strides, looking up and down at Huang Li, and said with a smile: "Huang brother is finally back, these three months have been worrying to death. Let me take a look, this face has tanned a bit, but the body seems to be more robust."

  Huang Li felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that there were still people who cared about her. She glanced up to see Zhen Niang also walking out of the house, one hand leaning against the door frame, looking over at her with an expression that was somewhat like a young wife welcoming her husband home.

  He Da Kui snatched the box from Huang Li's hands and led him to the south house, saying as they walked, "I was just waiting for you to come back earlier. Our winter preparations are later than others by a lot. Zhen Niang kept saying that we should wait until you return before being busy, but if I hadn't seen the weather getting colder and brought people over, she would have continued to suffer from the cold! Come, let's rest in the south house for a while, and then we'll tidy up the north house. Actually, it doesn't need a big tidy, as Zhen Niang has been sweeping every day since you left. The main thing is to heat up the kang, so it will be warm at night..."

  Huang Li smiled and nodded, until they entered the south house, He Daku was still talking non-stop like a machine gun, not even giving him a chance to interject.

  Zhen Niang first smiled and didn't speak, then busied herself boiling water, next picked up a rag and broom, silently went to the north room to sweep.

  Huang Li drank a few mouthfuls of hot water, and when He Dakuai's words paused slightly, he smiled and asked: "When we left, I didn't think it would take so long. Has everyone been okay during this time?"

  "Alright, alright." He Daku hesitated for a moment and said somewhat embarrassingly: "To be honest, Zhen Niang should move back home to live, but I still want to trouble her for a few more days, it's really not easy to say this."

  Huang Li put down his bowl and said casually, "He Shu, if you have any difficulties, just speak up. As relatives and friends, we should help each other out. Besides, Niu Niu calls me Uncle, and Zhen Niang is my sister. We siblings living in the same courtyard isn't too much trouble."

  "Right, right, I was being too polite." He Da-kui rubbed his hands together and said with a silly smile: "Dagang is getting married, Huang brother you also know, our whole family is squeezed together, this is really a bit inconvenient. We're poor, we even borrowed money from Zhen Niang to get married, thinking of renting another cheap house is really not easy. So I discussed it with Zhen Niang and temporarily borrowed her small hut, let Dagang and his wife live there for ten days or half a month."