Chapter 115: Great Cold, New Year's Eve, Making Dumplings, Posting Spring Couplets

Lu Yuan stepped out the door and saw smoke puffing out from Pang Kaige's house.

The windows of Pang Kaige's house had been sealed shut, and the smoke kept rolling out from the door.

As for the fire ducts under Pang Kaige's house, Lu Yuan had never bothered to look.

After all, Lu Yuan had been really busy these days.

Besides getting up early and going to bed early, he also had to go to Gao Tingyu's house to teach Chen Taohua how to use a sewing machine.

At noon he would go home for a nap, then in the afternoon he'd go out for a run or squeeze in some fishing.

Who has the time to worry about Pang Kaige!

But seeing the situation before him, Lu Yuan figured it out: the underground passage beneath Pang Kaige's house must have been messed up.

At that moment, Pang Kaige and Wang Yulan also saw Lu Yuan and Su Liyan come out.

Immediately, Pang Kaige and Wang Yulan hurried over to Lu Yuan to ask for help.

Lu Yuan definitely had to go check it out; if not for Pang Kaige, then at least for Wang Yulan.

"Wife, go home and eat. After you finish, go to work. Today I won't keep you company."

Lu Yuan turned his head to look at Su Liyan and said.

"I'm busy today; later I still need to stop by Lin Fusheng's house."

Su Liyan promptly nodded and went home obediently.

Lu Yuan led Liu Shoucai into Pang Kaige's house.

"It's almost choking in here," Lu Yuan said after looking around, covering his mouth as he stepped out to catch his breath.

"The ventilation opening of the passage is wrong; besides, what material are you using? Why is smoke leaking from the seams?"

Pang Kaige looked bewildered and quickly said:

"Uh… well, why worry about the material now? What should we do?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"It's simple—just tear it down and redo it. Fortunately we noticed the smoke."

"If there were no smoke, you'd go in tonight, shut the door, and sleep—you might not wake up tomorrow."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Wang Yulan at his side quickly said:

"How should we fix it, Brother Lu? Can you help us?"

Lu Yuan looked at the adorable Wang Yulan and smiled.

"We're neighbors; helping out is no problem."

After saying that, Lu Yuan turned his gaze to Pang Kaige and fell silent.

Pang Kaige stared, seeing Lu Yuan looking at him, and suddenly understood.

But in this situation Pang Kaige couldn't say anything, and finally he looked at Lu Yuan helplessly and said:

"Lu… Brother Lu, you see, no one clears the ash from your stove at night; Gao Xushi just clears your night‑time ash in the morning."

"The ash that piles up during the day isn't handled either; when I come back from work at night I help Su Liyan tidy it up—after all, I'll have to clear my own ash too, right?"

Lu Yuan looked at Pang Kaige with great satisfaction.

"All right!"

"Let's get started!"

Immediately, Lu Yuan gave Pang Kaige a hearty pat on the shoulder and grinned.

"You're a true brother; from now on I'll trouble you with clearing the ash that builds up at my place during the day."

Pang Kaige twitched the corner of his mouth and could only nod repeatedly.

"No trouble… no trouble…"

Only after the smoke inside the house had mostly cleared did Lu Yuan lead Liu Shoucai in.

Pang Kaige and Wang Yulan followed behind; upon entering the house, Lu Yuan began pointing out what needed to be done.

"This part needs to be changed, that part torn down; this spot needs to be built up, that spot dug deeper."

Liu Shoucai, who had followed Lu Yuan for a long time, after Lu Yuan finished speaking, looked directly at him and said:

"Master, if we redo everything, it'll cost about twenty bucks."

Liu Shoucai naturally calculated the cost based on the state‑run store's material prices.

Seeing that Lu Yuan, as the master, had asked this person to haul ash, Liu Shoucai knew their relationship was merely ordinary, so he didn't need to lay out the full bottom line.

Of course, even if they were on good terms, refunding the money later would be the same.

Pang Kaige stood aside, feeling a pang of pain—this didn't even include the workers' wages yet.

In the end, after adding the labor fees, the total came to twenty‑nine dollars; pay now and it'll be settled by tomorrow night.

Moreover, Pang Kaige's household must provide meals for today's noon and tomorrow's noon as well.

Of course, the meal cost is easy to handle—just go out and buy some steamed buns and a vegetable soup.

After Lu Yuan finished stating the price, Pang Kaige originally wanted to haggle, but Wang Yulan beside him simply pulled out the money.

This can't be delayed.

In just three days it'll be the New Year.

After Wang Yulan finished paying, she suddenly froze, then quickly looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"Brother Lu, my parents' house also has a Kang heating duct installed by my brother; will that one be all right?"

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan turned his head and glanced at Pang Kaige.

Pang Kaige, embarrassed, had already lowered his head and dared not look at anyone.

That will definitely go wrong.

Finally……

Lu Yuan led the horse, bringing Liu Shoucai and Pang Kaige toward the East City Gate.

Today we're going to be busy.

Liu Shoucai first went to the East City Gate to round up people.

First, gather a group to go to the Siheyuan in Dongming Community to renovate Pang Kaige's Kang heating ducts.

Liu Shoucai first had people buy materials, then he followed Lu Yuan and Pang Kaige to Wang Nianjun's house.

Lu Yuan went to check what was wrong, then redesigned a new plan, and then re-implemented it.

Lu Yuan rode ahead on horseback, while Liu Shoucai and Pang Kaige quickly followed behind.

On the way out of the Siheyuan heading to the East City Gate, he unexpectedly ran into his wife.

Lu Yuan flicked the reins, and the horse beneath him broke into a quick two-step trot; Lu Yuan then looked at his wife's back and said:

"You're not being good, you didn't even run."

"Eh?"

Su Liyan turned her head, and upon seeing her man, her exquisite face instantly lit up with a surprised smile.

However, upon hearing her man's words, Su Liyan coquettishly said:

"No~ big brother~ I've been good~ I've been running ever since I left the courtyard, only stopping to walk two steps before you spotted me~"

Seeing his wife's adorable appearance, Lu Yuan couldn't help but burst into laughter; after a moment, he bent down, reached out, and ruffled the top of her head, saying:

"Is that so~ You're really good~ Alright, then rest a bit before continuing to run; I'll go first, big brother~"

Su Liyan nodded with a well-behaved expression and spoke softly:

"Okay~"

After saying that, Lu Yuan directly flicked the reins and ran toward the East City Gate.

Liu Shoucai and Pang Kaige greeted Su Liyan, then immediately caught up.

Su Liyan watched her husband's departing back with a face full of happiness, feeling that he was truly capable, able to help with anyone's chores~

Lu Yuan quickly arrived at the East City Gate on horseback, then looked back at the panting Liu Shoucai running after him and said:

"You go find people first; round up a group to buy materials, then bring the materials to the Siheyuan and wait. After we finish checking his father-in-law's place, we'll come back."

After taking a big gulp of air, Liu Shoucai repeatedly nodded and said:

"Alright, boss, I'm on my way."

Lu Yuan sat on his horse, looking back toward the direction they had come, wondering whether he should go back to pick up his wife.

After thinking it over, he decided against it; a bit of exercise wouldn't hurt.

After all, he had a perfect physique and went for a morning run every day.

Lu Yuan glanced at a distant breakfast stall, then turned to Pang Kaige, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile:

"Won't you treat me to breakfast?"

Holding onto the horse, Pang Kaige, panting heavily, looked at Lu Yuan with a face full of question marks and said:

"Why should I treat you to breakfast?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Hey, you—I rushed over to repair your Kang heating ducts without even finishing two bites of breakfast; don't you think you should treat me to a meal?"

Pang Kaige: "……"

After a moment's thought, Pang Kaige decided, 'Well, I didn't have breakfast this morning either.'

Thinking about coming back to feel the Kang heating ducts, Pang Kaige hadn't eaten at his father-in-law's house this morning; he just grabbed his wife and came back.

Having just run that stretch, he was indeed a little hungry.

In the end, Lu Yuan went with Pang Kaige to the distant breakfast stall to eat, which wasn't far from the East City Gate.

Even if Liu Shoucai later brings people over and doesn't see him, he'll still be able to see his horse.

When Lu Yuan and Pang Kaige sat down, Lu Yuan looked at Pang Kaige, raised an eyebrow, and said:

"Why are you still out of breath? Liu Shoucai is in his thirties or forties and ran all the way without getting winded like you—are you weak?"

Saying a man can't do anything is okay, but you can't say a man is weak.

Immediately, Pang Kaige glared at Lu Yuan and said:

"You're full of shit!!"

"I came back because I hadn't eaten breakfast—I'm starving!!"

Lu Yuan looked at Pang Kaige's pale little face and felt it didn't seem like hunger.

He merely raised an eyebrow slightly and said:

"You should exercise like me even when you're fine; look at your weak appearance—don't end up unable to father a child!!"

Pang Kaige: "???"

Having snapped back to reality, Pang Kaige was about to launch into a tirade right then.

Lu Yuan instead directly shouted at the breakfast stall's owner:

"Boss, four fried dough sticks, two bowls of tofu pudding……"

Having said that, Lu Yuan then looked at Pang Kaige and said:

"Do you eat cilantro and chili?"

Pang Kaige glared at Lu Yuan, then gritted his teeth and said:

"I want both!!"

Pang Kaige was flustered with anger, as if Lu Yuan were treating him to a meal!

The next second, Lu Yuan looked at the owner and continued:

"Two bowls of tofu pudding all spicy, one bowl no cilantro, two layers of fresh meat xiaolongbao, two tea eggs!"

Lu Yuan finished speaking, Pang Kaige gritted his teeth and stared at Lu Yuan, saying:

"You're almost there, fighting the rich huh?!"

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"What's this about? This is my breakfast standard; besides, you married such a rich wife, why are you so stingy?"

Speaking of his wife, Pang Kaige is quite satisfied.

Although not as pretty as Su Liyan, nor as capable as Su Liyan, but can't deny they have money!

Dad is still a blue-collar worker; later he can get me a promotion to a cadre.

To say something unpleasant, this is basically marrying into the family.

The key is, I'm better off than marrying in, and later the kids will take my surname.

Immediately Pang Kaige raised his eyebrows and said:

"My wife has money, so what? It's for me to spend; why should I spend it on you?"

Lu Yuan gave a string of hehe smirk, and didn't speak either.

……

Pay attention, this man is called Xiao Cai, he's now mighty.

Liu Shoucai here at the East City Gate really calls the wind and summons the rain.

"You two, later go to the private shop and pick materials for me properly; when you bring them back I'll inspect them, and if there's any bad material I'll deduct your pay!"

Liu Shoucai stood at the East City Gate, shouting at the crowd before him.

The two people pointed at by Liu Shoucai smiled obsequiously and said:

"Don't worry, Master Liu, you still don't trust me~"

Liu Shoucai proudly raised his eyebrows and said:

"If you're not at ease, can I still let you two go?"

"But you must pick seriously for me."

The two of them kept nodding.

Afterwards, after Liu Shoucai finished picking a batch of people, he looked at those others who weren't selected, feeling a bit disappointed and preparing to leave, and said:

"Don't rush, there's still work today; I need to first go see my boss, I estimate I'll come back around nine o'clock to pick another batch."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, they quickly clasped their hands and said, "Liu Sir, auspicious!"

At this moment, Liu Shoucai was truly pleased.

Thanks to the boss, my reputation here has really taken off!

At the same time, someone in the crowd suddenly shifted their gaze from Liu Shoucai to behind him.

Soon, everyone did the same, their heads quickly moving in parallel.

Liu Shoucai frowned, turned back, and saw a graceful figure running past from behind him.

Looking at that graceful figure, Liu Shoucai was slightly taken aback.

Eh?

Isn't that the boss's wife?

While Liu Shoucai was dazed, someone in the crowd clicked their tongue and said:

"Out of all the city women coming out every day, this one is the most handsome—look at her figure, look at her…"

Ah da!!

Liu Shoucai stood up and gave a flying kick, knocking that person down.

Amid the bewildered stares of the crowd, Liu Shoucai glared at the people before him and said:

"From now on, keep your mouths clean; other women don't matter, but this one is my boss's wife."

"From now on, whoever speaks ill of my boss's wife, don't come looking for work at the East City Gate again!"

The crowd exchanged glances and kept nodding.

They dared not speak a word of nonsense, fearing to provoke another "ah da".

…………

A few days passed in a flash, and suddenly it was New Year's Eve, the thirtieth of the twelfth month.

The day before New Year's Eve is the Major Cold solar term.

Who knows which immortal invented these twenty-four solar terms.

Once the Major Cold passed, the weather turned cold instantly.

That night there was a heavy goose-feather snow; in an instant the land froze, Huangcheng was covered in silver overnight, the snow white and glittering.

This morning when we woke up, aside from Lu Yuan's and Pang Dekai's households, every other home in the courtyard was covered in frost.

However, the cold couldn't freeze everyone's enthusiasm for celebrating the New Year.

Now everyone in the courtyard is at home, rich or poor, each household is chopping filling with a thumping sound.

In wealthy households, the filling is pure meat.

In poorer households, they mix in some cabbage.

The courtyard presents a lively scene.

Some kids in the house, unable to bear the boredom, took out some firecrackers from the hanging whip, held a stick of incense, and began to romp around the courtyard.

Before long came a bang, then before long another bang.

They stuck the whip into the snow, watching the snow explode, excitedly jumping and shouting.

At this moment, Lu Yuan's household was also bustling.

Lu Yuan held a cleaver and chopped meat with a thumping sound; tonight's dumplings are filled with pure beef—if it were pork it would be too fragrant, you couldn't eat many.

Su Liyan was boiling paste in the pot, and soon they would put up spring couplets.

Lu Yuan chopped for a while, then got up to move his neck and wrists, watching the children darting about in the courtyards outside the window.

A smile also appeared on his face involuntarily.

With such a rich New Year atmosphere, I really haven't celebrated one like this in a long time.

"Brother~ the paste is ready, let's put up the spring couplets!"

Su Liyan brought a steaming basin of paste from the kitchen, gazing at Lu Yuan and speaking in a coquettish voice.

Lu Yuan gazed at his stunningly beautiful wife and also broke into a grin.

"Let's go~"

(End of chapter)