Chapter 85

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Li Xiulan rode on Zhu Rou Rong's motorcycle and arrived at the convenience store run by Niu Chunsheng and Lin Xiaofang in town.

At this time it was only seven-thirty in the morning.

The convenience store had its door open, and at the entrance there was a simple stall selling breakfast items like steamed buns and soy milk.

There were quite a few customers coming to buy breakfast, and Niu Chunsheng and Lin Xiaofang were enthusiastically greeting them.

Seeing Li Xiulan arrive, Niu Chunsheng enthusiastically called out:

"Sister-in-law Xiulan, how come you're here? Today isn't market day!"

Li Xiulan replied:

"I came with Dajun Shu to do work; he told me to wait here for him."

At this moment Niu Chunsheng asked:

"I heard from Xiao Fang's uncle that your family's house construction stopped; what exactly happened?"

Li Xiulan gave a bitter smile:

"The money ran out."

Niu Chunsheng's eyes couldn't help but reveal a trace of sympathy.

But it wasn't appropriate to ask anything further.

He went and fetched two steamed buns and a cup of soy milk and brought them over:

"Sister-in-law Xiulan, you haven't eaten breakfast, right? This is for you!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly asked:

"How much is this?"

Niu Chunsheng just said:

"No money needed, my treat!"

"How can I accept that, I still have to pay!" Li Xiulan hurriedly fished out money.

But Niu Chunsheng busily said no need, yet in the end Li Xiulan still insisted on giving one yuan.

She didn't want to owe Niu Chunsheng anything; even for two steamed buns and a cup of soy milk she didn't want to be in debt, and she was even more unwilling to accept Niu Chunsheng's charity, because that would only make her look pathetic.

Niu Chunsheng couldn't persuade Li Xiulan otherwise, and in the end accepted that one wrinkled yuan bill from Li Xiulan.

At this moment, Lin Dajun and Zhou Hongwei arrived.

They greeted Niu Chunsheng and Lin Xiaofang, bought breakfast and cigarettes here, and then took Li Xiulan to the construction site.

This construction site was also near the town.

Walking from Niu Chunsheng's convenience store, it took ten minutes on foot to arrive.

Li Xiulan followed Lin Dajun and Zhou Hongwei to the construction site, only to see a large site of about one hundred fifty square meters; the foundation had just been excavated, construction hadn't started yet, and cement, gravel, and other building materials were piled nearby.

"This family is really rich; they want to build a three-story building, and even want interior and exterior decoration. I've already contracted the whole project for a flat price; as long as we finish within a year and a half, there's absolutely profit to be made!"

Lin Dajun looked at the empty expanse before him, his eyes bright and spirited.

The contracting system is popular now; before, he took projects calculated by daily wage, but with the contracting system, the faster he finishes, the more he earns.

Because he pays Zhou Hongwei and Li Xiulan wages still calculated by daily wage, the faster the work, the less he has to pay Zhou Hongwei and Li Xiulan, and the remainder all goes to him as the foreman.

"Hongwei, you work hard on this site; I'll give you twenty-five yuan daily wage, but no slacking off!"

Lin Dajun said this to Zhou Hongwei at this moment.

Zhou Hongwei immediately beamed with joy:

"Deal! Uncle Dajun, I'll definitely work hard!"

Before, Zhou Hongwei's daily wage was twenty yuan; now it increased by five yuan, making him even more motivated.

Lin Dajun then turned to look at Li Xiulan:

"Xiulan, you're still fifteen yuan a day; later when you become skilled, I'll raise it a bit, no problem with that, right?"

Li Xiulan hurriedly nodded:

"No problem!"

This was the first time in her life she went out to work; building her own family's house before doesn't count.

How could she dare to be picky?

"Good, since no problem, let's start work today; today we'll do the foundation first!"

Work started!

Li Xiulan was responsible for mixing mortar, while Zhou Hongwei and Lin Dajun were responsible for filling the foundation.

After a busy day, Li Xiulan was exhausted.

Her waist still ached faintly, but she endured it, deliberately concealing it, afraid that if Lin Dajun found out, he wouldn't want her as a laborer anymore.

She barely managed to persist until quitting time in the afternoon.

Li Xiulan needed to find her own ride home.

Because Lin Dajun and Zhou Hongwei's homes were both near town, not on the way, the problem of getting home could only be solved by Li Xiulan herself.

Li Xiulan came to the street corner, wanting to see if she could catch a ride-share.

As a result, she waited for a long time but couldn't get a ride-share.

Instead, several motorcycles specifically doing passenger business drove over to actively solicit her, asking where she wanted to go.

Li Xiulan asked how much it cost to go to Shanggou Village.

As a result, these passenger-carrying drivers all said eight yuan, with cheaper ones at seven yuan.

Li Xiulan was unwilling.

She had worked all day to earn fifteen yuan, and taking a motorcycle home would cost nearly half of it—how could that be acceptable?

So she continued waiting for a ride.

As a result, she waited until night fell, but no ride came.

Finally she had no choice but to go ask those motorcycle drivers who picked up passengers again.

By this time, hardly any motorcycles could be seen anymore.

Only the last one remained, and when she asked, the motorcycle driver directly quoted ten yuan.

"Wasn't it just eight yuan a moment ago? Why does it cost ten yuan now?"

Li Xiulan asked with a dark face.

She felt this driver before her was nothing but a profiteer.

"Big sister, it wasn't dark yet a moment ago, but now it's dark. If you don't want to ride, forget it—I'm not forcing you!"

The motorcycle driver smiled, feeling he had already grasped Li Xiulan; besides taking his motorcycle home, Li Xiulan had no choice.

From here to Shanggou Village there were still over ten kilometers of road, a long way off!

However, he underestimated Li Xiulan's degree of thrift with money.

Li Xiulan directly turned her head and left.

She actually chose to walk home on foot!

Li Xiulan's solitary figure walked and walked on the highway under the night; she walked for a full four hours before finally returning to Shanggou Village!

When she got home, the time was already past ten o'clock at night.

"Mom, why are you home so late?"

The three children were still waiting for her in the Living Room.

Li Xiulan's face was full of tiredness, and her Ankle ached terribly.

"I couldn't get a ride, so I walked back. Have you all eaten Dinner yet?"

Li Xiulan felt heartache for the three children before her.

"We ate already. We cooked it ourselves. Seeing you hadn't come back, we fed the pigs and chickens too! We left Rice and dishes on the table for you. Have you eaten Dinner yet?"

Wang Dashan said so.

Now he was becoming more and more sensible.

Although his Grades/Scores were very poor, he could already do a lot of Housework at Home.

Li Xiulan opened a Basket turned upside down on the table; Inside was a Plate of water spinach that had already cooled completely.

Her Nose felt slightly sour, and she couldn't help but be moved.

"Have you all Showered yet?"

"We have!"

"Then hurry and go to sleep. You still have to get up early for school tomorrow!"

"Okay, okay. Mom, you eat your Meal and go to sleep early too!"

Wang Dashan took Wang Erhai and Wang Xiaohua into the Room to sleep.

Li Xiulan had long been so hungry her eyes were swimming.

She took out the Bowl and Chopsticks; when serving the Meal, the hand holding the Spoon was Trembling.

Cold and hard rice, paired with ice-cold discolored water spinach—she ate it wolfing it down.

After eating, she finally felt a little better.

Then she went to the Firewood Room to boil water; there was no Water Heater at Home, so to Shower she had to boil water first.

By the time the water was boiled, an hour had passed.

Li Xiulan simply Showered, and then returned to her own Room to sleep.

And at this time, the time was already past twelve at night.