The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

In January, the capital city was once again covered with snow.

The Forbidden City, with its red bricks and gold tiles, is covered with a white blanket after the snowfall. It looks quite like the style of Peiping in the past.

The cold winter wind howled in the sky, and snowflakes half the size of a fingernail fell from the sky, dancing in the cold air.

Figures about the size of ants on the ground were climbing up ladders to reinforce the brick and wood buildings, or to clear the thick layer of snow on the roof to prevent the house from collapsing.

The snowfall this year is much heavier than in previous years. Whether it is the demand for wood or coal, it is a test for every relevant practitioner.

In the Nanluoguxiang Siheyuan, everything was quiet at this time. The hustle and bustle in the streets and alleys gradually subsided. Snowflakes fell on the winter vegetables under the eaves and instantly turned into ice, forming a thin shell. Suddenly, in the distance, From the looks of it, I thought it was jade cabbage carved from jade.

On the old locust tree in the central courtyard, the sparse leaves are wrapped in snowflakes, and the texture is covered with crystal clear icicles, like an oil painting of an ice and snow world.

The chimney inside the house emits gray smoke outwards. After the hot air in the house bakes the roof, droplets of water roll down along the eaves. However, before they fall to the ground, they make a greater contribution to the ice hanging upside down under the eaves. .

"Qin Huairu, hurry up and ask Yu Li, what time is it? Why haven't our coal and briquettes been shaken yet~!"

In the middle courtyard, other people's chimneys were smoking heavily, but Qin Huairu was the only one who looked at the seeping walls, her hair almost turned white with worry.

In the dark bedroom, Ms. Jia Zhang was sitting cross-legged on the bed, wearing reading glasses. She threw aside the bamboo basket on her knees. Her fleshy hands were already almost as cold as the outside temperature. They would freeze again. , it is estimated that the frostbite that has not occurred for many years will reappear.

It is said that fatter people have more fat content and can survive the severe winter better, but obviously, in the Jia family, this does not apply. Qin Huairu is gradually losing weight, and her chin is almost pointed, but it is red. The hands are still knitting.

"It's not you. You can only get in and out with your money. It's been delayed for so long and it's snowing so hard. Who will come to deliver it to your door~!"

After saying this, Qin Huairu became angry and turned around, facing the window of the bedroom. At this time, the mother also felt distressed. The two people who like to play with firecrackers stopped going out to have fun and set off firecrackers. They stayed inside the house. Shivering.

"That's how you talk to me, Qin Huairu, where did your work money go? You can't just wait~!"

Ms. Jia Zhang was a little unreasonable, but she still got angry at her daughter-in-law. She really didn't expect that her daughter-in-law would not be able to survive this winter if she really didn't buy coal to shake the briquettes.

"How much can I earn from working? It's Chinese New Year soon. I'm taller again. My trouser legs only reach my ankles. My feet are two sizes too big. I can't wear the cotton shoes from last year. I can't buy them~ !”

The more she talked, the angrier she became. Qin Huairu threw the woolen pants she was about to extend on the table. The price of coal ash was not that expensive last month, but this month it has risen to 20 yuan per ton.

I originally thought about holding on for a while, waiting for others to finish buying, and seeing if the price of the remaining items could be lowered. Unexpectedly, it was snowing heavily, and no one was willing to give them away, let alone spend money.

The Chinese New Year in the north is a hurdle in itself, not to mention storing vegetables for winter, clothes for children, and keeping warm.

Just one yuan of meat had to be put into the meal of dumplings for the New Year. After many calculations, there were holes to be filled everywhere.

When Li Feng retired from the army, 40 kilograms of coal cost only 24 cents. Now it has risen to 34 cents in the past few years. It takes at least 70 to 80 kilograms of coal a month to keep the house somewhat normal.

If you want to be warmer and order a stove, it will cost twice as much, plus the cost of shaking the coal ash into briquettes.

The account couldn't be settled. Once it was settled, Qin Huairu felt that the pit of her heart was hurting, as if a knife was being used to cut her flesh.

"Banggan, go and find your stupid uncle and borrow some money. Everything in this kang is almost burned out~!"

Feeling the heat under her buttocks gradually fading away, Mrs. Jia Zhang couldn't stand it anymore. Like a big bear who couldn't hibernate, she yelled for her grandson to go.

"Mom, why are you so embarrassed? You're not allowed to go. Why don't you teach him to steal other people's things~!"

From December to today, the briquettes placed at the door of He Yuzhu's house were often buzzed with excitement. Banggan, who had hesitated just a moment ago, ran to the door and was immediately stopped by Qin Huairu.

"You're talking about stealing, I'm going to borrow it, and I'll pay it back in the spring~"

Jia Zhang, who was sitting on the bed, was unhappy. She twisted her waist as big as a millstone and explained forcefully.

"I'll go to Yu Lina and ask. Let's agree first. You have to give me the money. It's your job in the first place. This year, you have to do it for someone else~!"

Muttering in their mouths, Qin Huairu and He Yuzhu are vomiting now. Liu Lan is here again. How can they let Banggeng go to "borrow" again at this time? Last time, Liu Lan had said something strange to him because of this. , she didn’t want to leave any more words on her tongue.

After opening the thin quilt curtain, Qin Huairu's neck and shoulders suddenly shrank, she turned back to the house, pulled a scarf around it, and then walked out on the crunching snow.

Looking at the brightly lit He family, two shadows were reflected on the door. Inside, He Yuzhu was talking loudly about the mountains, which made Qin Huairu, who was already in a bad mood, look even worse.

He turned around angrily, and couldn't help muttering in a low voice: "Hu Meizi, you have no shame~!" First, he looked at the rabbit nest. Although it was full of straw, several rabbits still gathered together. Hug the nest to keep warm, not to mention fighting, I just want to stick together.

Perhaps because he heard the noise in the yard, the window of Lao Yi's house was slightly opened. He Daqing, who was occupying the magpie's nest inside the window, looked at Qin Huairu, who was observing rabbits in the yard, expressionlessly, until her shadow disappeared. , and then closed the window.

There has been heavy snow in the past few days. After cleaning up the chicken blood in the middle courtyard, there was another wave. At this time, every house was no longer cleaned. Everyone had to be careful when going out.

After passing through the hall, the scene in the front yard became much better.

Lao Yan's family shoveled snow hard, not only shoveling their own, but also shoveling the snow in front of Li Feng's house across the street. Even next to the chicken coop built by Uncle Li Feng, there was only a thin layer of snow. Snow, it can be seen that Yan Laoer's diligence has taken a lot of trouble.

In fact, it is not just his family, but also the other families living on both sides of the hall. Although Xiaofeng has been on a business trip for so long, once he becomes famous, he will be surrounded by good people.

There was no movement in the back room. Through the window, Qin Huairu could only see the darkness inside the house. Turning around, Qin Huairu went directly to the main house of Lao Yan's family.

The dilapidated bicycles at the door looked heartbreaking. This year, the factory handed out a hundred brand-new bicycles, but she didn't get them. There was a 1% chance. This thing is not about who gets richer, but it all depends on work. Performance, the result of the employees' own selection, she could only sigh.

"Hey, Qin Huairu, what about you?"

"Hurry up and lower the curtain. Come in if you have anything to say. Don't let the cold wind come in~!"

The whole family is enjoying themselves in the house. Although Lao Yan is stingy, there is a big difference between shaking the briquettes by himself and others. The whole family has been working together for a long time, and now they are burning according to the daily quota. Not to mention it is very warm, at least it is better than the Jia family." "Hungry and full" is much more stable.

"I'm looking for Yu Li. I ordered the briquettes a few days ago and would like to know when they can be delivered~!"

Seeing other people cracking melon seeds and eating peanuts, Qin Huairu could not help but show a little timidity. She lowered her head a little, looking for someone to do things with nothing. She was still a little embarrassed to face the unwelcome eyes of the Yan family.

"Opposite, opposite, go to Li Feng's house to look for it, it's not here~!"

Yan Jiecheng was chewing melon seeds at this time. He looked much better than last year. His energy was back, but he still didn't like Qin Huairu. He always felt uncomfortable when he met someone who was scheming.

Yu Li makes briquettes for Li Feng, not to mention melon seeds and peanuts. She can also eat, drink and eat snacks. She is still pregnant, so she can do this for you. According to Yan Jiecheng's words, let the Jia family go find the coal factory by themselves. I didn't even give her any money, so why should I help her?

"Qin Huairu, it's not me who said that you are going to suffer big losses if you keep scheming. Today, I brought you back from the coal factory. It's not cheap to find someone to pull the cart on the street. Uncle Li Feng and the others have all gone back~ !”

Seeing Qin Huairu turning around and about to leave, Yan Bugui's eyes turned into crescent moons with pleasure. The old man's family and children were taken care of, and the medical expenses were saved. It was all his money.

Li Feng and his mother Liu Yin, whether it was Liu Haizhong's Lili or his own Yu Li, they all treated them equally and served them delicious food and drinks. They were just looking for two wet nurses for their own Li Hui to take care of the children. Lao Yan was also happy , anyway, you can even take it with you, so it’s cheap at home.

Walking out of Lao Yan's house, Qin Huairu pinched her palms with her fingers. What Lao Yan said just now made her really embarrassed. She lost the protection of He Yuzhu. This year is much more difficult than last year.

In the Li family's house opposite, in the main room, Liu Qiang moved the stove in the small room to this side. The dampers of both stoves were opened to the maximum. When the quilt curtain was lifted, the warm hot air in the house rushed towards him.

The little one from Li Feng's family and the little one from Liu Haizhong's family were put on the bed, each crawling around with toys and having a great time.

Liu Yin took Yu Li and Lili, who were knitting and making homely clothes. Lili's fashionable woolen sweater compared to her own big cotton-padded jacket, which made Qin Huairu feel a little ashamed.

On the fruit plate on the table, there were melon seeds and peanut candies, and there were roasted hot oranges beside the stove. When Qin Huairu opened the door, she even saw a hot teapot in the big teapot Yu Li was holding. Spurring pears.

As Qin Huairu opened the door curtain and came in, the room suddenly became quiet. Three adults, two children, and five pairs of eyes stared at her blankly.

"The coal has been dried, right? But you have to find a car to go to the coal factory to pull it. Sister Qin, it's too late this year for your family to dry it in the boiler room. You have to give people something by then. The boiler master is here to do special work for you~!"

Seeing Qin Huairu coming over, Yu Li lazily didn't stand up. Her face was a bit fleshy recently. Her hands were covered with frostbite in previous years. It was so cold this year that she didn't even get up. Her lower abdomen was now three months old. She hasn't shown her pregnancy yet, but she can clearly see that she has gained weight.

She was covering her hands with a roasted pear with rock sugar, and her mouth was filled with orange toffee. Eating the two together had a unique taste. Recently, she liked to eat sour ones, sour ones went better with sweet ones.

For Liu Yin, one sheep is herding, and two sheep are herding.

The son has not come back yet. At the end of the year, he will receive his salary for the past few months. The factory leaders also gave him a bunch of coupons during the New Year, and Liu Yin simply bought them all.

She had to go to Xikuoyuan to take care of the two mules during the day and night. When Lili was away, there was another Yu Li who could help take care of Li Hui.

Yu Li seems to like Li Hui very much, especially after she became pregnant, she has a strong maternal instinct and Liu Yin is very relieved. (End of chapter)