Free Web NovelChapter 284: Chapter 284: Houses
Just build four ordinary rooms, and since they helped the Zhou Family before, they have some experience. Although the result is a bit ugly, at least the house is built. But when it comes to putting on the tiles, these villagers say they can’t do it and someone else has to be hired.
Gu Kaiping said, "The craftsmen in the county have already been hired by others. Where are we supposed to find people..."
"Then we really have no choice," said the villagers, refusing to do it. "These tiles are precious. If we accidentally break them, you’ll ask us for compensation later on.
Besides, we don’t have the skills to repair the tile roof. You’d better hire someone more skilled."
The workers asked for their wages, insisting they only wanted today’s payment and were not concerned with the rest.
Gu Kaiping had no choice but to pay them. This was agreed upon beforehand.
Seeing these people leave, Gu Kaiping had to turn to Gu Baijiang once more.
"Go to Gu Kaiyuan’s place and see if it’s finished there. Get a craftsman from over there to come here."
Gu Baijiang really couldn’t understand what his elder brother was thinking. There are so many craftsmen in the village, yet he doesn’t know to spend money to bring one here.
Over at Gu Kaiyuan’s side, they were already finishing up. Those craftsmen were gathering stones by the creek every day, reportedly to pave a road. They seemed to have too much time on their hands.
Gu Kaiping did indeed spend a high price to hire two craftsmen from there. But upon seeing the crooked building, they refused the job.
"Sir, it’s not about earning this silver, but rather you’ve constructed this as if it’s a thatched shed. If you force the tiles on, the walls won’t support it.
Moreover, look at the roof’s slope. A bit of rain or wind might blow it off."
They didn’t dare take a job that would ruin their reputation.
"What now? We can’t just tear it down and rebuild," Gu Kaiping thought in frustration. It’s the same house, why does our family have to have so many issues?
"That’s not necessary. You could follow the example of that household," the other pointed at Zhou Gang’s house, "and use straw for the roof. But each year you’ll need to replace it; otherwise, it will leak and attract insects."
Unsaid was that this house may only last three years before needing repairs again.
"Then help us with the straw roof," Gu Kaiping didn’t want to argue anymore. Since it’s only temporary here, they might as well make do.
"Why don’t you discuss it among yourselves? Actually, this doesn’t require us. You can find someone from the village, and their wages will be lower than ours."
Some regret for agreeing too quickly before. Now they could only hastily push the task back.
"It’s alright, I don’t mind spending silver," Gu Kaiping really didn’t care for the little price difference and didn’t want to make a mess like the second brother, going around and failing in the end.
The visitors had no choice but to confirm again, "Then you need to get the head of your family here. We need to discuss it with him first."
Seeing this middle-aged man repeatedly glancing towards the old man not far away, it was clear he was not the decision-maker.
They had dealt with too many such jobs in the village and feared these people might shift all the blame onto them, eventually.
Gu Kaiping had no choice but to bring Gu Baijiang, who was almost spitting blood from anger. He could only suppress his temper and say these matters were their decisions, unrelated to the visitors. Only then did they start working.
Covering with straw was a simple and quick job. Just as they finished, it began to drizzle.
"That was really timely," Gu Kaiping felt fortunate. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even have a shelter from the rain tonight.
"Would you two also cover this oilcloth on top?" He pointed to the worn oilcloth on the side at the straw roof, not feeling entirely secure. "Would that help reduce leaking?"
After all, mud had just been thrown on, and if rain washed over it, something might indeed happen.
The two craftsmen had no choice but to climb up again and help cover it with the oilcloth.
The Gu Family, seeing the house finally completed, could finally breathe a sigh. They spent more silver than others, yet ended up with this result.
They quickly moved the things outside into the house and spread the remaining dry grass on the floor. Though rudimentary, it was better than sleeping exposed.
☆
Bai Suihe looked at the spacious house in front of her and felt a sense of belonging to this world. This is their house, and she finally understood why her ancestors were so obsessed with having a home.
In the previous small courtyard of the Gu Family, she didn’t feel any sense of belonging and vaguely felt like a guest under someone’s roof. But today, this house gave her a place in this world that was truly her own.
Entering her second courtyard room, it was already furnished with new furniture.
There was the brick bed she requested. Inside, in a smaller room, a folding bed was placed as a backup. When the weather warmed, she could switch beds.
As soon as Bai Suihe entered the house, she felt it was much warmer than outside. "Did they keep the stove burning since yesterday?"
"It’s been burning all this time. It seems Zhuang Datou did a good job. It works well," Gu Kaiyuan helped Bai Suihe take off her cloak. "In other rooms, we’re also preparing brick beds, so no one will have to suffer in the winter."
Bai Suihe said, "That’s the way to go. They’ve followed us all this way; we can’t mistreat them."
Gu Kaiyuan nodded in agreement, "Now that the house is built, the vegetable plots are also cleared. Is there anything you want to plant?"
Bai Suihe said, "We’re quite unfamiliar with this area. The village chief’s wife and her daughter-in-law are capable people. Maybe they can stay and help us a few more days here.
This way, we can gain insight into the area and also ask for their advice."
Though they had been inquiring for days, some details were difficult to cover thoroughly.
"Then let’s ask them to help manage the vegetable plots," Gu Kaiyuan had long sensed the lack of manpower. Sometimes when things got busy, he even asked Yun Ni and others for help.
He didn’t dare let anyone go now because no one knew if trouble from the Gu Family might arise again.
Before the Gu Family left, they could be embroiled at any time.
"It’s a good idea," Bai Suihe thought for a moment and added, "How about hiring two more people? Let them help manage the lands, and don’t forget, we have the task of reclaiming wasteland."
Gu Kaiyuan found nothing wrong with this. Although they were exiled, the house, bought lands, and mountain lands were all under the mother-in-law’s name.
Bai Suihe’s belly grew larger day by day, and Gu Kaiyuan wished to stay by her side every day. Naturally, he had no mind for reclaiming and planting lands; he even preferred sending Zhuang Datou and others to deal with county errands.
Gu Kaiyuan said, "Later, I’ll have a word with the village chief. I’m sure they’ll be happy to accommodate us."
