Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 88 Reception
Lin Qin frowned. "Ordinary fabric is fine. I just need to block out the light. It's not a big deal in the dead of winter now, but it will be light by 5 a.m. in the summer. We can get up early, so it's fine. But I want the kids to sleep a little longer. Without curtains, the sun will be shining on their bottoms by 6 a.m.

Zhang Shujuan laughed, "Blocking the light is easy, just make a bamboo curtain. Find a bamboo craftsman to help. I remember there are many old bamboo craftsmen selling handicrafts in the old street. Why don't you go and ask them?"

The old street is right next to Friendship Square; you can walk there.

Lin Qin was overjoyed. She thanked Zhang Shujuan and went to the old street. While wandering around, she actually found two places that could take on this job, and the price was not expensive. It was four yuan for a bamboo curtain and the delivery could be completed in five days.

Lin Qin ordered six sheets at once, which was just enough to fill all six rooms.

Busy as they were, it was already the Little New Year by the time the six bamboo curtains were delivered to Nanyu.

At this time, the furniture they had ordered from Afu was delivered, and they had acquired everything they needed for their home. After a year of hard work, they finally had a home of their own.

Lin Yi, unusually generous, bought a large string of firecrackers and extended them along the cement path to the gate at the gap.

Chen Wenjun pasted up the newly bought red couplets.

As soon as the firecrackers were set off, the entire Tanka community in Nanxi heard the commotion.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Wenhai, who had just returned home, asked curiously, "Mom, what's going on over there? Why is there such a big commotion!"

Zhou Shuifang looked up and then lowered her eyes again. "It must have been Wenjun who put it there. He bought land on the island and built a house. I guess it's finished and he's moved into his new home."

Chen Wenhai was greatly surprised, "What? Brother Wenjun is so capable? He even bought land and built a house?"

Not many Tanka people have this idea. After all, they all earn their money through hard work. Their ancestors have lived this way for generations, and they are already used to life on the water. They will not change it on their own initiative.

Zhou Shuifang scoffed, "What's so great about that? If you ask me, it's just a waste of money. We bought land and built houses, but we still have to make a living by fishing. The houses are built on the island, so it's inconvenient to go out. Unlike us, who live on boats and can go wherever we want. We can even row our boat to Nangang to live."

She had planned to leave before, but because everyone here was an acquaintance, and they helped each other out, and she had someone to talk to, she didn't leave.

Chen Wenhai, however, thought differently. “Mom, moving to Nangang is not an option. Last month, I heard from the Tanka people there that the government seems to be planning a unified port. In the future, only cargo ships will be allowed to enter the port. The government will allocate a piece of land to settle the Tanka people living in Nangang for easier management.”

Zhou Shuifang listened in a daze, her brows furrowed, her dissatisfaction almost overflowing.

"We're all Tanka people, why would they cause trouble if we didn't live on boats but on land!"

Zhou Shuifang's tone was very confident, but Chen Wenhai shook his head, "There's no fuss. I think everyone is quite happy. The government allocates land and provides subsidies for building houses. Each household only needs to pay a maximum of two hundred yuan to have their own house. The boats can also be converted into cargo ships, earning more money. Who wouldn't be happy?"

Zhou Shuifang fell silent instantly.

Grandpa Chen sighed, "There's nothing we can do about the government's unified planning. We can only listen to them. Having a house on the ground is not bad. At least we don't have to worry about wind and rain."

Zhou Shuifang thought for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "Dad, do you think our place will also be managed in a unified way like this?"

If that's the case, they'll have to follow Chen Wenjun's example and buy land to build houses.

The thought that she had once scoffed at this matter made Zhou Shuifang feel uneasy.

Chen Wenhai said excitedly, "Grandpa, let's go see Wenjun's house. I wonder what his new house looks like. Have you ever seen it?"

Grandpa Chen shook his head. "Your father and I often travel with cargo ships. Wenjun said before that the house wasn't finished yet, and we couldn't help, so we didn't go to cause trouble."

Chen Wenhai didn't think much of it and urged Chen Yongding to change direction.

When the fishing boat arrived at the gate of Nanyu.

Chen Wenhai saw the house number on it and read, "Nanyu 001, huh? This island has a name now!" The house number was the same as the village's house number, obviously a household registration number issued by the government.

Upon hearing this, the whole family became curious. Just then, the front door was open, and Chen Wenhai was the first to jump off the boat, shouting loudly inside, "Brother Wenjun!"

Chen Wenjun was busy in the kitchen in the yard when he heard the noise and immediately ran out. Upon seeing the person, he ran down the steps to greet him, "Wenhai, you're back? Where's Wenjiang?"

Chen Wenhai grinned, looked at the surrounding fields, and said in shock, "He was sleeping on the boat."

As soon as he finished speaking, Grandpa Chen and his group came downstairs, with Chen Wenjiang walking at the back, still sleepy-eyed.

It wasn't until I stepped into the courtyard and saw what was inside that I truly came to my senses.

Chen Wenjun led them toward the house.

The group kept asking questions, and even after entering the hall and sitting on the brand-new solid wood sofa, they were still a little disoriented.

Zhou Shuifang was stunned by the house in front of her. From the moment she entered, she kept exclaiming, "My goodness, this house is so big and beautiful! I thought you were just building an ordinary brick house, but I never expected it to be such a magnificent Western-style building!"

Grandpa Chen and Chen Yongding's reactions weren't much better than Zhou Shuifang's, just not as exaggerated.

The Chen brothers carefully examined the layout of the first floor, their eyes filled with envy.

"Brother Wenjun, building this house must have cost a lot of money!"

Chen Yongding's family all looked at Chen Wenjun.

Chen Wenjun chuckled and said, "I have spent quite a bit. I haven't calculated the exact amount yet, but I've used up all my savings this year. I still have some debts, but luckily they're not pressing me for repayment. I'll pay them back slowly next year."

Furthermore, the renovation materials on this floor were also a gift; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to achieve this level of finish.

Zhou Shuifang looked on with suspicion, "Who's so capable as to pay for your renovations!"

Chen Wenjun briefly recounted how he saved the person: "They originally wanted to pay me, but I refused. Then, without saying a word, they delivered some renovation materials to me. I wanted to return them, but the deliveryman wouldn't allow it, so in the end, I had no choice but to use them."

Zhou Shuifang's family was stunned. They could only marvel at Chen Wenjun's good luck and had nothing else to say.

Chen Wenjun invited the whole family to stay for dinner.

While waiting for their meal, they didn't stay idle; they followed Chen Wenjun to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables.

For the Tanka people who had never farmed before, picking vegetables was a novel experience. Even Grandpa Chen was very interested and commented on the vegetables Lin Yi planted.

While they were working, the two children finished their homework, ran down, and came to the field hand in hand.

The Chen brothers were shocked by Ping An's drastically changed appearance.

"Hey! Ping An, your uncle almost didn't recognize you!"

Ping An smiled brightly and jumped up and down a couple of times with a cocky grin, saying, "Mom said I've become handsome."

The Chen brothers nodded repeatedly.

"You've become more handsome. What about your mother?" Chen Wenjiang asked.

(End of this chapter)