Then, the father-in-law and his daughter-in-law spent the entire morning building the stove.
It didn't need to be too big, just enough for cooking.
The Zhao family didn't have any iron pots, and ironware was rare. His old hatchet, for example, was a gift from his predecessor, his cheap father.
"It's too cold, and it'll take a long time to dry in the shade. Let's just roast it over the fire and make lunch while we're at it."
Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiao'e were thrilled to see the new stove.
"I never thought we could have a stove like the one only landlords could have."
"Don't be so silly! Go wash the rice." Yang Zhaodi quickly closed the gate.
Zhao Zheng smiled as he watched the two women busying themselves in the new kitchen.
Soon, rice was cooked, along with omelets and pickled vegetables.
Zhao Zheng had wanted to buy some meat from the mall, but since he couldn't explain the source, he gave up.
This was his biggest secret, one he couldn't tell anyone.
It was just the right time for the two girls' stomachs to adjust; eating too much greasy food wouldn't be good for them.
"Father-in-law, it's time to eat." Zhang Xiao'e came over, carrying a large bowl of rice with an omelet on top, and a pile of plantain pickles beside it.
"You guys eat too," Zhao Zheng smiled, then said, "We're still short of a dining table, a cutting board, and a kitchen knife. I'll be going to the mountains more often these days to chop firewood and see if I can trap some prey for money. It's inconvenient to not have these things at home."
"Father-in-law, please don't go deep into Jinji Mountain. I heard from the hunters in the village that they found bear feces at the foot of Jinji Mountain the other day!" Yang Zhaodi said nervously.
Zhao Zheng's mouth twitched. There are tigers in Zhuzui Mountain, but bears in Jinji Mountain?
That's too dangerous.
These days, people don't have much to eat, let alone wild animals.
But where else could he go if not Jinji Mountain?
"Sister Yueying said that there are shepherd's purse and dandelion to be dug in the dry river channel of Yegouling in the east. Although the drought is severe this year, there is no snow. She invited us to go together tomorrow!" said Zhang Xiao'e.
Yang Zhaodi was afraid Zhao Zheng would go to Jinji Mountain again. "Father-in-law, you can rest at home for the next two days. We still have enough rice at home to last us a few days. Xiao'e and I will go and dig for wild vegetables..."
Yegouling was quite far away, not even close to Jinji Mountain, and the little we could dig wouldn't be enough.
"I'll stay just outside Jinji Mountain and won't go in..."
"Father-in-law, the hunters said the blind bear must have been starving and came down the mountain after smelling human presence. He'll be hiding nearby for the next few days. Don't take any chances!"
Yang Zhaodi said nervously. "If you really can't stay idle, why don't you come with us to Yegouling to dig for wild vegetables?"
"Please, Father-in-law," Zhang Xiao'e pleaded.
Zhao Zheng nodded. "Okay, we'll go in a few days."
Fortune is sought in danger, but it can also be lost in danger.
Blind bears are no joke.
A few years ago, a hungry blind bear came down the mountain and entered the village to eat people. Later, the county government had to gather two or three hundred people to dare to go into the mountains to hunt bears.
Unless you have a long-range weapon like a crossbow, or have set traps for catching large prey in advance, it is better to be cautious.
If something goes wrong, the two daughters-in-law will definitely be bullied to death.
The two women breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't expect that they could really convince their father-in-law.
In the past, their father-in-law would not listen to them.
After eating and drinking, the three of them worked together to build the earthen kang. Because there was no steel bar, Zhao Zheng had to use bamboo bars instead, with wood as the weight.
The chimney in the middle was built with stones to allow the smoke to remain longer.
"Finally it's done." Zhao Zheng rubbed his aching waist. "Let's light a fire and smoke it out. It should be done in an hour or two."
"How much firewood will that take?" Zhang Xiao'e was distressed, but she still obeyed Zhao Zheng's instructions and lit the fire.
Zhao Zheng then checked the airtightness of the earthen kang. After burning for half an hour, he saw that no smoke had seeped out, and then he nodded with satisfaction.
At this moment, a voice came from outside. A woman with a sallow complexion and medium build stood at the door and shouted, "Xiao'e, are you home?"
"It's Sister-in-law Yueying." Zhang Xiao'e walked out. "Sister-in-law Yueying, is there anything wrong?"
Wu Yueying looked inside a little embarrassedly. "Is your father-in-law here?"
"Yes, are you looking for my father-in-law?"
"No, no." Wu Yueying took Zhang Xiao'e's hand, walked aside and whispered, "Xiao'e, I want to borrow half a pound of corn from you, okay?"
"Lend so much?"
"Yes, to make rice soup for my head of the family!"
"What's wrong with Brother Wang?"
"Hey, you know my husband. He's been weak since he was a child. Just a few days ago, he caught a cold and fell ill again. It's not a good year now, and if I don't give him something good to eat, I'm really afraid he won't make it."
Wu Yueying said with red eyes, "I'm not lending you the corn for nothing. When I have more money, I'll return eight taels of corn, okay?"
Zhang Xiao'e also knew that Wu Yueying's husband was in poor health. After all these years of marriage, it was she who supported the Wang family with her frail body.
But even so, her husband not only refused to thank her, but also beat and scolded Wu Yueying every day.
Because Wu Yueying gave birth to two daughters in a row, the whole Wang family looked down on her.
Sometimes, when she returned late from picking wild vegetables or chopping wood, they suspected she was having an affair with another man and accused her of being unfaithful.
He was even more extreme than her father-in-law before.
Although she wanted to help, she understood her own family situation very well, and she was not the one who made the decisions at home. "Sister Yueying, you know my family's situation, how about I go and discuss it with my sister-in-law?"
Wu Yueying thanked her repeatedly, "Xiao'e, sister-in-law also knows that your family is in a difficult situation. I was really forced to do nothing. My parents' home has been emptied out by me, and my neighbors are scared of me. I can only come to you with a thick face."
As she spoke, she began to cry.
Zhang Xiao'e was also a little at a loss, and hurried into the kitchen to discuss with Yang Zhaodi in a low voice.
Yang Zhaodi frowned.
In the village, sister-in-law Yueying is the best to them.
Whenever there is something good, they are always the first to be thought of.
Moreover, Xiao'e and sister-in-law Yueying's family are from the same village. With this relationship, she really wants to help.
"This matter needs to be discussed with my father-in-law."
"But will father-in-law agree?" Zhang Xiao'e said anxiously, "Sister-in-law Yueying said that Brother Wang is seriously ill. If he doesn't eat something good, he may not survive!"
Yang Zhaodi was also unsure. Food is so expensive now. The price changes every day. It's hard to buy it.
With father-in-law's temper, he may not lend it out.
Just as the two were discussing it, a voice came, "Lend it, Yueying is not the kind of person who goes back on her word. If you can help, help."
The two walked out of the kitchen together and looked at Zhao Zheng.
Yang Zhaodi thought she had heard it wrong, "Father-in-law, what did you say?"
"I said, lend the food to Yueying, but you have to tell Yueying not to tell anyone that this food is lent out by our family, understand?"