Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 548 The Three Tiger Pigsty is Completed

In the dark night, Xu Qing and Jing Hong separated from their sister Xiaoya and brother-in-law Jianjun at a lonely intersection, and then rode their bikes side by side back to the compound.

At this time, there were not many people in sight on the street. The last bus was still running. After it stopped at the stop, some people got on and some got off.

The slogans on the walls on both sides of the street seem to have remained unchanged for decades.

But in fact, every once in a while, they are replaced or repainted by workers with paint.

The light of the street lights was still as dim as ever.

Along the streets, there are scattered dots that seem to echo the stars in the night sky.

Xu Qing exhaled heavily, letting the cold air flow into his chest.

It’s been 81 years, and life has moved forward again.

Good thing, everything is developing rapidly invisibly. In August last year, the country established special zones in the south - 'Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen'.

It marks the determination to reform.

Xu Qing knew that it would not be long before the four special zones would become the most economically developed places in the country.

Although the Forty-Nine Cities, as the capital, are not included in the list, their development momentum is no worse than that of the four special zones.

Xu Qing is convinced of this.

How can one be poor at the feet of the Emperor?

Ma Jinghong was riding her bicycle and was too tired to talk. Xu Qing turned to look at his wife, feeling heartbroken.

Returning to the courtyard alley, Xu Qing saw his second brother Aiguo and his third brother Feng Ming waiting for him and Jinghong at the entrance of the alley with flashlights in hand.

"Brother, sister-in-law, why did you come back?"

Xu Fengming held a cigarette in his mouth, took the bicycle from his sister-in-law Ma Jinghong, and gestured to his second brother to help his elder brother push the bicycle.

In fact, Xu Aiguo knew what to do without Feng Ming lowering his eyes.

He is older than Feng Ming. He became sensible early and became the factory director earlier.

"Brother, I'll take the bike."

Xu Aiguo reached out and grasped the handlebar of his elder brother's bicycle.

When Xu Qing saw this, he smiled, and he and Jing Hong used a flashlight to illuminate the light, and returned to the compound with his second and third brothers who were waiting for him to come back.

In the front yard, Yan Bugui had dinner early. The TV set had no program due to the weather, so he walked alone in the front yard.

I heard the voices of Xu Qing, Aiguo, Feng Ming and Ma Jinghong coming from outside the courtyard door.

The third master of the courtyard couldn't help but frown slightly.

He knew when Aiguo and Feng Ming would come back in the afternoon. He didn't pay attention when he went out just now, and now he heard the sound.

The unspeakable envy in my heart.

Aiguo and Fengming have a good relationship with the eldest brother Xu Qing. The three brothers have gotten along well since childhood. Even though Aiguo and Fengming have been married in recent years, they have never had any conflicts with Xu Qing.

The brothers can be so harmonious. As the senior dean of the college, how can he not be envious when he sees it?

He is a man with children, but his three sons, whether they are Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang, or Yan Jiekuang, let alone whether they are capable or not, whether they are filial to him as an elder or not is the relationship between the three of them. It was all a mess, which made him feel chilled.

They are both brothers and have grown up together. Yan Bugui can't understand why the gap is so big.

Xu Qing's parents died early, and Aiguo and Fengming almost grew up with Xiaoya and their eldest brother.

However, he and his third aunt were still alive, and they had to discipline their three sons and their only daughter.

As a result, when the four children grew up, it didn't matter that none of them were obedient. They still couldn't get along with each other and always quarreled with each other.

Yan Bugui felt heavy in his heart and couldn't figure out where the problem was in the discipline between him and the third aunt.

It is obvious that the three Xu Qing brothers, who have no parental control, are not as good as his three sons.

But not.

On the other hand, the three Xu Qing brothers are enjoying themselves happily, and their wives also get along very well.

On the other hand, his three daughters-in-law had deep opinions about each other.

Yan Bugui let out a long sigh, and out of the corner of his eye saw the beam of a flashlight coming out of the dark courtyard door. He hurriedly turned around, opened the door curtain, and returned to the house.

He was so upset that he didn't want anyone to see him.

Xu Qing took his wife and two brothers back to the front yard. Without stopping, he walked straight through and entered the middle yard.

In the middle courtyard, the lights of Jia's house, Yi Zhonghai house, and Shazhu house were all on.

It was only 7:53 in the evening, not yet 8 o'clock, and no one had taken a rest early.

Back in the backyard, Xu Damao heard the noise, opened the door curtain in a military coat and came out, walked towards Xu Qing and said:

"Qingzi, let me ask you something. Did my daughter-in-law Qin Jingru really win the second prize at your grain station today?"

Xu Qing put out the flashlight and said:

"Brother Damao, didn't Qin Jingru bring the noodles back this afternoon? Don't you believe it?"

Xu Damao didn't know what to answer for a moment. He dressed up this morning and went out to play mahjong with a few girls. When he came back, he saw ten pounds of white noodles.

Not only did he see it, he was also ridiculed by Qin Jingru.

However, he was the one who went to Xu Qing Grain Station to buy food for his family in the past. He always entered the lottery but never won.

He didn't believe that Qin Jingru would be lucky enough to win the lottery today. She was afraid that she bought Baimian back on purpose to make him angry.

But when Xu Damao heard Xu Qing's rhetorical question, he knew in his heart that the prodigal woman who dared to fall in love with him was really lucky, so he said:

"Well, Qingzi, you and Jinghong have been busy all day. Go back home and have dinner."

Xu Damao took out the peony cigarette from his body, handed it to Xu Qing and Feng Ming, twisted his body, and slipped into his own room.

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment. He didn't know what happened to Xu Damao today, but he was not in the mood to think about it.

After working at the grain station for a whole day, I was already tired and hungry, so I and my wife, Ai Guo, Feng Ming, hurried back to their house.

The room is warm, the temperature is much higher than in the courtyard.

The stove was burning brightly and the kang was hot. Aunt Feng had already cooked dinner with Aiqian and Xiujuan.

Just wait for Xu Qing and Feng Ming to come back.

Xu Hongzhi was lying on the hot kang, looking at the infant Xu Hongbin with his sister Qiaoxin and cousin Hongfu.

"Dad, Mom, you are back."

Xu Hongzhi slipped off the kang, put on his cotton shoes, helped his father and his father take the scarf, and hung it up.

After Xu Qing and Jing Hong briefly freshened up, they sat on the kang and ate dinner.

Aunt Feng never went to the kang, and she sat half-length on the edge of the kang so that she could go to the kitchen easily.

Today, on New Year's Day, I made dumplings and cooked them in a pot in advance. There were still some uncooked dumplings in the pot. She waited until the time was almost up and took them out with a strainer.

Xu Qing picked up the dumplings with chopsticks, dipped them in the vinegar sauce, and stuffed them into his mouth while they were still hot.

Eating this bite in the middle of winter makes you feel comfortable and warm.

Xu Fengming seemed to have remembered something. He placed his chopsticks flat on the edge of the bowl, pulled on his shoes and went back to the house where he lived. He took back a bottle of foreign wine and said:

"Eldest brother, second brother, my father-in-law gave me brandy."

Seeing this, Aunt Feng got off the kang and went to the kitchen to take out the dumplings from the pot. When she brought them to the front room, she also took a few wine cups.

Xu Qinghe, Patriot and Feng Ming, the three of them ate dumplings and took a sip of brandy.

Xu Hongzhi looked envious, grabbed Xu Fengming's arm and begged:

"Third uncle, let me try some good foreign food."

When Xu Fengming heard this, he laughed and handed the wine cup to his nephew, "You are only allowed to take a sip."

Xu Hongzhi opened his mouth and took a sip. His expression suddenly changed. He immediately left his third uncle and hid next to his mother Jinghong, saying with a grimace: "It doesn't taste good."

Jinghong and Aiqian also had a drink each.

Tang Xiujuan didn't drink it because she had drunk it before and knew what it tasted like. In addition, she had to nurse her baby.

These days, foreign wines are not very popular in China.

The Friendship Store has a lot of them, but the prices are extremely high.

Except for those foreigners in the embassy who often buy and drink it, Chinese people are afraid of its high price and dare not buy it easily even if they want to try it.

But Xu Qing drank it without spending any money.

After the meal, the bottle of brandy was empty.

Xu Aiguo took his wife and children, and Feng Ming's family back to their houses.

Aunt Feng washed the dishes, chopsticks and other belongings and left.

Xu Hongzhi volunteered to add briquettes to the stove.

As a result, the stove went out before midnight, and the room became colder. Xu Qing and Jing Hong woke up. They touched the kang, and there was still residual heat, so they did not go down to light the stove.

Early in the morning, Xu Qing woke up, got dressed, and lit the stove.

Then he pushed the bicycle out of the compound.

There is no snow or wind on the street, but the air is dry and cold. There are already more people, and there are many people surrounding the breakfast stall.

The sky was dim and bright, but the beginning of the day seemed to have begun.

As soon as New Year's Day is over, the twelfth lunar month arrives in a few days.

On the day of Laba, Xu Qing had a phone call with several farms in the western suburbs at the meat factory, asking him to leave some piglets for the three tigers, who would be easy to raise after spring.

As soon as the matter was finalized, before he put down the receiver in his hand, San Huzi opened the door curtain and walked in, carrying a net bag.

"Qingzi, Ermazi, my mother made Laba porridge this morning and asked me to bring some for you two."

Xu Qing put the receiver back on the phone, looked at Sanhuzi with a smile and said:

"It's only nine o'clock in the morning."

Sanhuzi put the net bag in his hand on Xu Qing's desk, took off the hat on his head and said: "Hey, my mother got up at six o'clock in the morning to get busy."

Er Mazi was wrapped in a military coat, sneezed, rubbed his red nose, and handed San Huzi a cigarette while saying:

"My aunt is so diligent. She asked you to come over so early to deliver Laba porridge. She knows that I haven't had a sip this year."

After Er Mazi finished speaking playfully, he touched the lunch box in the net pocket with his hand and said in surprise:

"Oh, it's still hot, Qingzi, hurry up, let's not let down our aunt's kindness."

Xu Qing looked at Er Mazi with disgust, "Brother Mazi, your cold is not good. Be careful what you say and don't spit like flying stars and infect me and San Huzi."

Er Mazi touched his nose with his hand, quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped it, then ran out of the office and went to the cafeteria to get a spoon early in the morning.

Five minutes later, Xu Qing and Er Mazi were drinking Laba porridge that San Huzi's mother had cooked early in the morning, chatting around the stove with San Huzi.

Sanhuzi smoked a cigarette, sat aside and said:

"Qingzi, how's the matter with Piggy?"

"Before you came, I just asked. It's not a big problem, it's just that the price is a bit high. Several farms in the western suburbs said they can produce as many animals as they want."

Sanhuzi said oh and thought secretly.

Xu Qing ate Laba porridge and turned around and said:

"Sanhuzi, how is the wall of your pigsty going?"

"It's almost done. Three sides have been built, only the last one is missing." Sanhuzi responded: "It will be ready in a few days. Inside, I am thinking about buying a few asbestos tiles to put on the wall."

Er Mazi continued:

"Sanhuzi, you have a good idea. Asbestos tiles are good. Lao Gong, whose roof was collapsed by snow some time ago, wanted to save trouble and bought four asbestos tiles and laid them on the holes along the ridge of the roof."

Sanhuzi asked: "How is the effect?"

Er Mazi covered his mouth and coughed and then said: "The effect is good. It collapsed again yesterday afternoon. The asbestos tiles fell down, but they were not broken much. Only the corners were hit a bit seriously. But if the roof is not repaired properly, I'm afraid Lao Gong will celebrate the New Year." You don’t even need to turn on the lights at night, you can just raise your head and eat New Year’s Eve dinner under the moonlight.”

Xu Qing ignored Er Mazi's talk. After finishing the Laba porridge, he put down his spoon and said to San Huzi:

"Planning to use asbestos tiles?"

San Huzi smoked and nodded, "I think that thing is pretty good. I can put up the shed by myself in one day. When spring comes, I can start raising pigs."

Xu Qing hummed upon hearing this. Since Sanhuzi had decided so, there was no need for him to express his opinion.

In the morning of the Great Cold, the weather was extremely cold.

It can be said to be the coldest time of the year.

It is also the last solar term of the year.

Sanhuzi called Xu Qing and Ermazi to the pigsty he built in the field and asked them to help them see how they were doing.

The one-meter-high brick wall, except for the gate, formed a circle, enclosing more than half an acre of land.

Xu Qing and Er Mazi were both wearing military coats and felt pretty good standing in the newly built pigsty.

Although there is only a shed built with walls and asbestos tiles, if you add a pig trough, there will be no problem in raising pigs.

Er Mazi turned his head, looked left, then looked again, holding a cigarette in his mouth and said:

"Sanhuzi, don't you have a month to do this? It's finished now. As expected, we have land at home, so we can do anything quickly."

San Huzi heard Er Mazi's teasing and said with a smile on his face:

"Er Mazi, how about you raise the pigs and I help Qingzi, how about we swap?"

Er Mazi shook his head and said, "Forget it, my wife works at Hongxing Steel Rolling Plant No. 3, so she won't follow me to raise pigs in the suburbs. How can I do it alone?"

Seeing Er Mazi say this, Xu Qing smiled but was speechless.

He knew that Er Mazi had never thought about raising pigs.

Raising pigs may seem simple, but raising one pig is completely different from raising ten pigs.

Those who can't stand the hardship and the smell of pigs will have to give up their job if they can't work for more than a month.

It's not that Er Mazi couldn't endure hardship at all. In any case, when he was in the third factory, he stayed in the workshop for more than ten years without any complaints.

But the problem is, compared with Sanhuzi, it is still inferior.

San Huzi has endured hardships since he was a child. When he was young, he couldn't even find a decent job in the city because of his family's poor status.

There were no units in the city that would accept me, and no one wanted to work in a factory.

He once made a living as a second-hand dealer, bought braised pork, and opened a car repair shop.

There is nothing that I have not done, and there is nothing that I have not endured.

In addition, his home is in the suburbs. He raises pigs during the day, and his mother cooks meals when he comes home.

And his mother can occasionally come over to help.

This is something Er Mazi can't compare to.

In fact, this is a big reason why Xu Qing chose to let Sanhuzi raise pigs.

All kinds of conveniences are only available to Sanhuzi. Even if Ermazi wants to raise them, they are not as convenient as Sanhuzi.

What's more, Er Mazi has become familiar with several township communes near Sijiu City and the rural areas below in the past few years. He knows everyone from the commune secretary to the villagers in some villages.

If it was really about raising pigs, Xu Qing would not agree.

He finally took Er Mazi to the countryside for more than two years and trained him into his right-hand man.

They are very skillful in collecting grain and pigs.

You can't do it all over again, right?

Xu Qing blew out the smoke from his mouth, along with the cold air around his mouth, into the distance, turned around and said to San Huzi:

"Start next year?"

San Huzi thought: "It's better to start early. We have a pig pen, so we can't leave it idle. If the piglets can be transported in the next few days, I will start raising them."

Xu Qing nodded, thought for a moment and said, "I'll get in touch."

It's early morning.

After Xu Qing arrived at the meat processing plant, he used his office phone to communicate with several farms in the western suburbs and asked if they needed piglets now and could they be delivered today.

Several farms across the street thought about it for a while, thinking that Xu Qing was familiar with people from the Ministry of Agriculture, so they couldn't refuse the request.

Besides, I promised it before, no problem.

It was just that the time was suddenly advanced, and I was a little afraid to make the decision easily, so I hurriedly reported the situation to the superiors.

After receiving the approval, he called Xu Qing, and after being transferred by the post office, he said:

"Director Xu, you can send someone over this afternoon to pull out the piglets."

In the afternoon, snowflakes were falling in the sky. Xu Qing wrote a letter, stamped it with the official seal of the factory, and handed it to Sanhuzi and said:

"You take the letter and go over there. It has the seal of my meat factory and my signature on it."

Sanhuzi took the letter, glanced at it, folded it, and put it in his arms. Seeing that Ermazi was not there, he asked:

"Where's Erma?"

Xu Qing said: "I went to the countryside to collect pigs this morning."

Sanhuzi said oh, turned around and walked out of Xu Qing's office, heading towards the western suburbs.

When it was getting dark, Sanhuzi came back in the snow with excitement on his face.

Er Mazi, who went to the countryside, also returned to the meat factory. Together with Xu Qing and four workers from the breeding workshop of the factory, they put the six large black pigs that had just been brought back today into the pig house in the breeding workshop and ran to the third farm. Huzi looked over there.

Xu Qing didn't go with Er Mazi because he had something to deal with.

On New Year's Day, the meat processing plant was supposed to slaughter sheep for the Red Star Steel Rolling Plant No. 3 and No. 5. Because the two branches had a New Year's Day holiday, he also gave the meat processing plant a day off.

As a result, the two sheep were never slaughtered or sent over.

This morning, two buyers said today that they would come over tomorrow.

Xu Qing had to go to the slaughtering workshop to see if the two sheep were processed.

Don't let people come over early tomorrow morning and the sheep are still bleating. That would be troublesome.

Xu Qing walked into the slaughtering workshop and smelled the strong smell of mutton.

"Master Hui."

Xu Qing shouted, and Hui Dehai, who was holding the teapot, responded quickly:

"Director, why are you here? The sheep have just been killed and the smell is the strongest at this time. Let's go out and talk."

Xu Qing smiled and said: "It's okay, Master Hui, have you killed both of them?"

"Kill, my apprentices are skinning them." Hui Dehai sipped the hot tea in the teapot in his hand and said:

"Director, these are two good sheepskins. If you make sheepskin jackets, they will definitely keep you warm throughout the winter."

Xu Qing laughed and said:

"Master Hui, if you like it, I'll give you one."

Hui Dehai was flattered and said: "Director, you can't help it, my old bones can't bear it.

You can keep it for yourself. I specifically told my apprentices not to be too busy when peeling it, but to carefully peel it out as a whole, whether it is for making sheepskin coats or selling it for money. "

Xu Qing took out his cigarettes, handed one to Hui Dehai and said:

"Master Hui, I am so right to invite you here. You are a dedicated master and are a good master. Your apprentices will follow you. If they bring apprentices in the future, they will definitely be good masters."

Hui Dehai raised his head and laughed:

"Director, you are flattering me. I dare not say that I am a good master, but I have taught my few apprentices about 70% to 80% of the craftsmanship, and they will learn the rest on their own.

This can be regarded as the last point for me to teach them as a master. They should not just think about learning any craft, but also use their own brains to explore. "

Xu Qing agreed with Hui Dehai's words and nodded to indicate that he was right.

Craftsmanship is a matter of learning, but if you don't study it yourself.

You will never learn well.

Xu Qing glanced sideways into the workshop and saw several of Hui Dehai's apprentices busy and said:

"Master Hui, I won't disturb you and your disciples. You will finish your work later and get off work early."

Hui Dehai said hello.

Xu Qing turned around and left the workshop, walked out of the meat factory, and walked towards the Sanhuzi pig pen.

(End of this chapter)