Chapter 94: Su Changliang returns to the village, bragging wildly about his brother-in-law, to the villagers

The next day.

Lu Yuan stretched a big lazy stretch on the bed.

The temperature inside the room now is extremely comfortable, around twenty-eight or twenty-nine degrees.

It's really great.

After opening his eyes, Lu Yuan put on a small undershirt and went to the kitchen to eat.

He thought about what he should do today.

After eating, Lu Yuan then dressed properly and went out.

As soon as he went out today, he saw many people in the courtyard nailing up doors and windows.

That is, they were nailing a layer of plastic film over the whole window from the outside.

This way the heat inside can't escape, and it also lets less cold air from the winter get into the house.

Lu Yuan glanced at it and didn't bother; this thing had nothing to do with his home.

After all, his home needed to open the windows every day for ventilation.

Before leaving, Lu Yuan took out a small half-bag of coal from the kitchen, walked to the fire inlet of the Kang heating ducts, and dumped the whole small half-bag of coal in.

This morning his wife added some coal; seeing what his wife had added, Lu Yuan felt a bit moved.

Doing housework still falls to his wife; this morning the amount of coal she poured was just right, and the indoor temperature was the most comfortable.

Su Liyan's housework is truly superb; even if Gao Xushi came, she couldn't find fault.

And Lu Yuan, dressed and ready to go out, still needing to burn coal, made many of the aunties in the back courtyard frown and say:

"You're burning coal even when you're not home?"

Lu Yuan looked back at those aunties and smiled:

"Yeah, this way the room stays warm when I return; otherwise I'd have to start a fire again, which is a hassle."

The many aunties were speechless for a moment.

This is still a hassle?!

How lazy Lu Yuan is!!

Burning coal while no one is home during the day—isn't that pure waste?

Everyone also couldn't be bothered to talk about Lu Yuan.

Anyway, that scoundrel, with a little money in his hand, just wants to mess around wildly; he's not someone who lives a proper life.

Just wait, wait until his money runs out……

Everyone had just thought that, but then thinking again, this idea……seemed like something everyone had always thought before.

As for the result……

This kid's life is getting more and more comfortable!!

The other day when everyone went into Lu Yuan's house, they also saw four lunch boxes with big pieces of meat placed on the main hall table.

This kid now really eats white flour every day, every meal with big meat.

It truly made everyone envy him greatly.

Lu Yuan led his horse to the front courtyard and just happened to see Chen Taohua returning.

At this time Chen Taohua had bought rice, flour, meat, vegetables, and also a basket of coal.

The other day Gao Tingyu got his wages, so naturally today he wanted to buy something good.

Everyone's life is like that: when they get paid, they eat the best of the month, then live frugally afterward.

These things probably weigh over a hundred catties; Chen Taohua carried them back on a shoulder pole.

"You're back, thank you this morning, Taohua sis."

Lu Yuan greeted with a smile.

Chen Taohua was startled, then quickly replied with a smile:

"It's my family that should thank you, Big Brother Lu; are you going out to fish?"

Lu Yuan laughed and waved his hand:

"Where? I've been busy lately too; I'm going to order a big wooden tub for bathing, so it'll be convenient to take a bath every day at home.

It's also almost the Little New Year, so I'm going out to buy some things, some coal."

Although they say he's not working and just playing around every day, in fact many things still need Lu Yuan to handle.

Of course, it's also related to the approaching year-end.

For the past few days I won't fish; after returning to Qiu Qiu Village to stay a couple days, I'll go fish to my heart's content.

Chen Taohua nodded, her face full of envy; being able to bathe at home every day would be so comfortable.

After the two finished speaking, Lu Yuan led his horse away.

Today there's quite a bit of business to do.

Lu Yuan first went to the department store, but saw that they basically didn't have the kind of wooden tub he wanted.

Or rather, they didn't have the size he wanted.

The wooden bathtubs sold in the department store are generally enough for one person.

That's not enough; Lu Yuan needs to buy an extra-large one that can fit two people bathing together.

After strolling around and finding none, Lu Yuan went straight to the East City Gate, where he also saw Liu Shoucai and his group.

He had Liu Shoucai introduce a few carpenters, who are now making it for Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan directly gave Liu Shoucai five yuan, telling him to buy whatever materials needed to help Lu Yuan.

Then after it's finished, have it delivered straight to his home; the remaining money counts as Liu Shoucai's hard work fee.

This truly made Liu Shoucai very happy.

After finishing with the wooden barrel, Lu Yuan went to the coal yard, originally planning to buy a hundred dollars' worth of coal.

But after deciding not to go, he found he didn't need that much at all.

One jin of coal cost only two li of money; Lu Yuan bought three thousand jin, enough for almost a whole winter, spending only sixty.

Buying that much coal, the coal yard boss naturally had someone help haul it back.

After giving the address, Lu Yuan then went to eat lunch himself.

After finishing lunch, Lu Yuan ran off to the department store to buy things.

Going home for Little New Year, shouldn't we bring something for Su Liyan's parents?

Also Su Liyan's second and third uncles.

The second uncle's family has a little boy, the third uncle's family has a little girl; for these two children, Lu Yuan bought two sets of new clothes, pants, shoes, etc.

Lu Yuan also didn't know what size the two kids wore.

Anyway, he just bought roughly that size, making them as loose as possible.

In the village, when buying clothes for kids, they always get them big so they can wear them for several years.

Then he also bought several pairs of cotton shoes.

As for food, no need; the last banquet had almost filled Su Liyan's family's cellar, and there were still plenty left after the banquet.

Su Changliang wasn't home either, and Su Liyan's parents couldn't eat much either.

Just wait until Little New Year when we go back, then cut some fresh meat to bring back.

In any case, today altogether we spent less than one hundred fifty dollars.

……

A few days later, at night.

Lu Yuan and Su Changliang were drinking a little alcohol at home.

Su Liyan had finished eating early and was busy beside the sewing machine.

"Let's wait until daytime to find an ox cart to go back; it's freezing at night."

Lu Yuan took a sip of warm wine and said.

Tomorrow is Little New Year.

All agencies and factories will be off for two days.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan plan to go to bed early tonight without fuss, then get up at four or five in the morning to head back.

Su Changliang, on the other hand, intends to go straight home after finishing this meal.

Regarding Lu Yuan's words, Su Changliang shook his head and said:

"No need, brother-in-law; walking back saves money, not to mention it's faster than an ox cart—if I took the ox cart tomorrow, I wouldn't get home until afternoon.

Moreover, I'm on night shift this week anyway, so I can't sleep tonight; it's only over a hundred li, I'll just walk back—walking a few extra steps won't make me cold, it's fine."

Su Liyan, who was sitting at the sewing machine mending Lu Yuan's socks and underpants, also looked up at Lu Yuan and smiled, pursing her lips.

"It's fine, brother~ Changliang has been walking in the fields since he was little; this distance is nothing."

Not to mention Changliang, even Su Liyan walking back these roads doesn't feel tired.

Such a young fellow, still an official runner, even though he doesn't wear the official uniform off duty, he still has the credentials, right?

He's not afraid of danger either; it's fine.

Lu Yuan didn't say anything either, anyway his family only has one horse, he definitely can't bring Su Changliang along.

Since Su Changliang wants to walk back, let him walk back.

Immediately, Lu Yuan also raised his eyebrows and said:

"Then you should drink less tonight, so you don't get dazed later."

Su Changliang wasn't keen on alcohol either, and immediately nodded.

At that moment, after Su Changliang had taken another bite of the big meat, he then looked around and sighed:

"Brother-in-law, you're really impressive; how did you come up with this trick?"

Before Lu Yuan could even speak, Su Liyan, who was at the sewing machine, couldn't help but beam with pride and say:

"What can't your brother-in-law think of?

Your brother-in-law is quite capable~"

Su Changliang also nodded; that's true as well.

Even if this brother-in-law managed to invent something that could fly tomorrow, he wouldn't find it strange.

After eating and drinking his fill, Su Changliang put on thick clothes, a thick hat, and ear warmers, then looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"Brother-in-law, I'm heading out now."

Lu Yuan nodded, just about to ask Su Liyan to see her brother off, but Su Changliang instead looked at Su Liyan, who had risen from the sewing machine, and said:

"Don't see me off; hurry up and look after my brother-in-law."

Having said that, Su Changliang went out and shut the door behind him.

As soon as Su Changliang left, Su Liyan glanced at Lu Yuan and immediately blushed.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Honey~ hurry up and boil the water; shall we take a big bath?"

Su Liyan, her face full of bashfulness, said:

"Eh~"

………………

The next day, eight in the morning.

Su Changliang was at home, gurgling as he drank his congee.

This night really wasn't cold; walking all the way, what could be cold?

If it's tiring, it's not really tiring, after all Su Changliang has been running in the fields since childhood; going to the city for work, those officials also walk around everywhere.

Walking twelve hours isn't anything.

If tired, walk slowly; if not tired, walk fast.

Just walking all night, there was nothing to eat or drink on the road.

It really left Su Changliang starving.

At this time, many people had gathered at the Su Clan.

First, Su Changliang, this official, had returned, so everyone came to have a look.

Second, everyone also knew that the Su Clan's son-in-law had returned today, because yesterday the son-in-law had people bring back a lot of things.

This Su Clan son-in-law is being generous.

If you say a couple of auspicious words to the son-in-law, he'll immediately hand out a few cigarettes.

Cigarettes are much easier to smoke than a pipe; the pipe makes your cheeks hurt from sucking, not to mention it tastes like saliva.

Everyone looked at Su Changliang and felt he had really changed.

Even though he's only been in the city for less than a month, whether it's his speech or what he does, it's completely different from how he was in the village.

Look, his hair is all combed up; he really looks like an official now.

Speaking of which, ever since Su Changliang went to the city to become an official...

The constables from the nearby yamen who come to the village, whether on patrol, checking households, or doing anything else, now have a courteous attitude.

After all, Changliang is an official in the Huangcheng.

Even if he's the same rank as those constables, his status is still half a level higher.

Moreover, although it's no longer fashionable for the yamen to bully the common folk, back when there was no one from the village in the Huangcheng, even if the constables shouted at you a couple of times or scared you with a stick, it really wasn't worth running to the Huangcheng to file a complaint.

Besides, who knows how to file a complaint in the Huangcheng? It's so big that just walking around in circles gets you lost.

Now that Su Changliang is here, the rural constables are much more courteous.

Everyone still feels grateful to the Su Clan from the bottom of their hearts.

Of course, everyone also knows that the Su Clan's son has become so successful entirely thanks to his brother-in-law in the Huangcheng.

"Mother, let me tell you, my sister's life in the city with her husband is truly like that of an immortal.

"You have no idea how capable my brother-in-law is; he rigged up a heated floor, and the room is wonderfully warm!

Su Changliang spoke the first half to his parents; then, unable to hold back, he squatted on the threshold with a bowl of noodle soup, showing off to the villagers in the courtyard.

The villagers squatting or sitting on little stools basking in the sun blinked, looking bewildered, and said:

"What's a heated floor? Is it warm because the stove burns a lot?

Su Changliang hastily swallowed the soup in his mouth and quickly said:

"No, it's not that; my brother-in-law somehow made a fire under the house, the walls of the house even give off heat, my old nose is warm!

"Yesterday I drank at my brother-in-law's place, wearing just a shirt, and I was still sweating; if it weren't embarrassing at his house, I'd have wanted to go shirtless!

Everyone looked at each other.

Everyone was completely bewildered.

Lighting a fire under the house??

What does that mean?

But is it really that warm??

That night, even with the stove lit, everyone was cold and had to hurry onto the heated brick bed.

As for Su Changliang's words, everyone still tended to believe them.

The Su Clan's people don't spout nonsense; Su Changliang is also a good kid who never lies or talks nonsense.

Maybe it's something new they came up with in the city.

Just as everyone thought that, Su Changliang again wore a face of admiration and said:

"That thing is only at my brother-in-law's house; he invented it, you probably don't know, my brother-in-law is amazing—he even invented the corn thresher!

Corn thresher?

What is that??

Seeing everyone's clueless expressions, Su Changliang felt quite pleased.

However… Su Changliang has never actually seen a corn thresher; he's only heard about it.

Of course, that doesn't matter; what's important is…

Immediately Su Changliang said:

"Because of this, the Bing Jia Chang rewarded my brother-in-law with three hundred taels of silver, gave him a promotion, and raised him to Fifth-Rank Forging Worker!

Hearing Su Changliang's words, everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, some becoming unsettled.

Last time when the Su Clan's daughter returned, she said the Su Clan's son-in-law is two years younger than the daughter, so this year he's twenty-one.

Twenty-one years old and a Fifth-Rank worker?

And he got promoted??

Goodness gracious…

Seeing everyone's stunned faces, Su Changliang was beyond pleased.

After gulping down a big mouthful of the soup in his hand, he again wore a proud expression and said:

"This isn't the end; my brother-in-law in the city held another banquet for my sister—guess what kind of people came?

Another banquet?

Everyone knows that the Su Clan's son-in-law's household has no one else but him.

So this banquet is being held at the Su Clan, not in the city.

How come…… it's being held in the city again?

How much does the Su Clan's son-in-law dote on Su Liyan?

And Su's father and mother, sitting in the room, were also dazed.

Ah??

Their own son-in-law again arranged a banquet for their daughter??

These two really have no idea……

Su Changliang watched everyone, shocked only that his brother-in-law was holding a banquet for his sister, missing the point, and feeling a bit anxious, he said:

"Hey, what's so surprising about my brother-in-law holding a banquet for my sister? He dotes on her so much, it's normal."

"Come on, guess who my brother-in-law invited to the feast!"

Everyone looked at each other, bewildered, and said:

"Who… who is it?"

The next second, Su Changliang grinned widely with pride and said:

"All big leaders!!"

"The main table at my brother-in-law's banquet— the lowest standard is all blue-cuff officials!! Do you know what a blue-cuff leader is!!"

Blue cuff??

Of course everyone knows!!

Isn't the county magistrate in the government office a blue-cuff official?

The main table all blue-cuff officials??

And that's not all— immediately Su Changliang proudly said:

"Seven or eight blue-cuff officials, and among them there's even a white-cuff official!!"

The crowd listening felt a bit dazed.

Hiss……

The Su Clan's daughter's banquet is huge, huh??

White…… white cuff??

At this moment, Su's father and mother sitting in the room had smiles blooming on their faces.

Our son-in-law is just too amazing!!

 Thanks to Old Brother A Miao for the two 1666 book coin tips, thank you so much~

 Thanks to Old Brother 110524 for the 200 book coin tips, thank you so much~

 Thanks to Hu Wukanlei and you, a bit faster, two old acquaintances for the 100 book coin tips, thank you so much~

 I got up at five o'clock today to watch the match, after watching I was too tired, so I lay back down to sleep a bit, hence the update is late, hehe.

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(End of chapter)