Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 232

Zhao Da'e is absolutely right.

Everyone knows about the problem with this well; the well rim is covered in ice, so we have to be really careful.

However, this matter cannot be resolved.

When people fetch water, they inevitably spill water. Since spilling water is unavoidable, at this temperature, the water will turn to ice in no time.

Over time, the ice became almost like ancient dry ice, layer upon layer, impossible for anyone to break.

Some people used shovels to cut the ice, but it didn't last more than two days before it was back to the same state.

As long as the temperature remains constant, it is virtually invincible.

There is simply no way to solve this problem.

Someone once tried placing a plank or similar object in the middle, but the plank froze, making it even more slippery.

The reality is this: there's no way to deal with this ice.

We'll have to be extra careful when people go to fetch water.

People have fallen into wells before, but none have been as unlucky as Zhao Yongjin…

One reason is that Zhao Yongjin is nearsighted; after falling into the well, his glasses fell off, rendering him unable to see. He also can't swim. If it were someone else with slightly better eyesight, they would have seen rocks nearby.

This well is a stone well, and it's very wide and large. There's an iron pipe in the middle to hold the windlass in place. To put it bluntly, everyone knows this well is very dangerous. Living here every day, people are naturally afraid of falling in. The iron pipe in the middle serves two purposes: first, it provides support, and second, it's a way to grab on if someone falls in.

In other words, whether Zhao Yongjin grabbed the iron pipe or clung to a crack in the wall, he would generally be fine. But he couldn't see clearly…

Secondly, it was because Zhao Tiezong, that idiot, couldn't swim, but he still went in. Instinctively speaking, after Zhao Yongjin fell in, when Zhao Da'e went back to get help, although he swallowed some water, it wasn't a big problem. Once everyone arrived, they pulled him out, and that was it.

However, the result is that two people still need to be rescued.

time is life.

In this cold weather, wearing clothes won't make you feel particularly cold. But if the clothes are all ice, the feeling is quite "cool".

Putting everything else aside, this is equivalent to winter swimming for more than ten minutes...

Zhao Yongjin has only himself to blame for his bad luck.

But Zhao Tiezong's outburst displeased Zhao Da'e. After finishing her previous statement, she added, "My brother is over twenty years old. Did he fall down on his own or was someone else pushing him? Doesn't he know? He's not brain-dead..."

Zhao Da'e spoke very heavily when he said "brain-dead".

"If I pushed him down, he'd come up and complain. Besides, I'm a grown man, did I push him? Instead of wasting time looking for trouble, you might as well clear the ice off the well. If you fell in today, everyone was there, so you're lucky to be alive. But tomorrow, when no one's around, who are you going to complain to?"

After Zhao Da'e finished speaking, she retorted to Zhao Tingxu, "Grandpa, you said I did a good deed but was wronged. What should I do if I feel wronged?"

Zhao Tingxu thought for a moment and said, "Zhao Tiezong, you're over forty years old, and you're spouting nonsense with that broken mouth. Quickly apologize to my granddaughter."

Zhao Tiezong: ...

Zhao Tingxu: ? ? ?

Zhao Tingxu raised his hand again.

Zhao Tiezong quickly said, "Seventh Uncle, I was too hasty just now and misunderstood the goose. It's my fault, it's my fault."

"That's more like it." Zhao Tingxu waved his hand and said, "Go check on your son, he's freezing."

Then everyone went to the Zhao family's old house.

Zhao Yongjin was carried to Zhao Tingxu's room to warm up, and his complexion improved a lot.

Zhao Da'e didn't go; the people in that room were people Zhao Da'e didn't really want to see.

Just now, it was also due to the circumstances that I had to do it.

Zhao Da'e returned to the barn, and Zhou Chunwen stood at the door watching him, asking in a low voice, "What happened? There are so many people in your family? I just heard you shouting for help or something, what's wrong?"

Zhao Da'e shrugged: "Some idiot fell into a well and almost drowned."

Zhou Chunwen's face immediately darkened as he stared at the bucket in Zhao Dage's hand: "That won't do, this water is undrinkable. Someone fell in, how the hell can we drink it? It's filthy..."

Zhao Da'e looked puzzled: "Big sister, your focus is really unique. It's almost on par with my dad's. Shouldn't you be paying attention to who fell down?"

Zhou Chunwen acted as if it were nothing to her. What did it matter to her who fell into the well? Anyway, Zhao Dage was back, so it wasn't her who fell into the well. Let whoever wanted to fall in, fall in: "Did your dad fall into the well?"

"Hiss... Your dad fell into the well."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, goose. I forgot, your dad's hanging at the top of the tree..."

"You..." Zhao Da'e rolled her eyes. Oh well, never mind. She couldn't win an argument with Zhou Chunwen.

Suddenly, Zhao Da'e slapped his thigh: "That's right! My dad's been hanging at the top of the tree for half an hour. Everyone's gone to rescue people, and no one's lowering him down. Could he still be at the top of the tree?"

As Zhao Da'e said this, he went out the door and looked up at the backyard.

That tree was really tall; Zhao Da'e could actually see Zhao Tiesheng still at the top of the tree...

Zhou Chunwen came out to take a look and couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "Big Goose, your dad is amazing! He didn't even come down, isn't he afraid of freezing to death!"

"Big sister, if you can talk, say a few more words," Zhao Da'e said helplessly. "My father is dead, and he has no inheritance for me. Why are you in such a hurry for him to die?"

Then Zhao Da'e called out in Zhao Tiesheng's direction, "Come down, come down. My grandma is calling you..."

After shouting, Zhao Da'e went back inside.

Zhao Da'e had no idea what Wang Guixiang was doing, but she knew that if she called out like that, Zhao Tiesheng would definitely come down.

This guy listens to Wang Guixiang.

"A mama's boy!"

"That's not what it is!"

Zhao Da'e cleaned the pot and started a fire.

"Since we're bored, let's listen to some storytelling," Zhao Da'e said. "Big sister, let me tell you a story from the Legend of the White Snake..."

"I heard."

"Meng Jiangnu wept at the Great Wall".

“I’ve heard of it.”

"Liu Lanzhi and..."

Zhou Chunwen was stunned for a moment: "Big Goose, what do you mean? Are you going to talk about Wang Baochuan and Xue Pinggui next? None of the female protagonists in the stories you're going to talk about have a happy ending. What do you mean? Are you cursing me..."

"I promise I didn't mean that. I just want you to have a clearer understanding of the world in the future."

"Then why don't you tell me the story of your father and mother..."

Zhao Da'e was speechless: Okay, okay! If you're going to keep chatting like this, then I'm not going to! It's too damn uncomfortable.

The two of them boiled water and then brewed a pot of tea.

It's still a mess outside, lots of people and things going on. But judging from the conversation, Zhao Yongjin seems to be alright, he's alive, moving and talking again.

Zhao Da'e didn't care about that. Anyway, Zhao Tingxu had just slapped Zhao Tiezong twice and made him apologize. Even if Zhao Yongjin said later that he was pushed down by Zhao Da'e, the result wouldn't change.

At worst, Zhao Tingxu can slap Zhao Yongjin a few more times until he tells the truth.

Zhou Chunwen pulled out some melon seeds from somewhere nearby and started roasting them.

"Hey goose, why don't you have any peanuts?"

"Maybe," Zhao Da'e said. "Maybe he was away from home these past few days and had my dad deliver a gift."

Zhao Da'e packed up everything he could yesterday, leaving practically nothing at home. Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough for Zhao Tiesheng to give as gifts.

Moreover, Zhao Dage was also quite helpless. Zhao Tingxu insisted on asking Zhao Tiesheng, and Zhao Tiesheng was the kind of person who couldn't refuse.

Even if there were peanuts, Zhao Tiesheng would have already sent them to Zhao Tingxu.

In any case, Zhao Tiesheng is a good son.

But as for him as a father, he had a lot of problems.

Zhou Chunwen didn't say anything, but just picked up a small comb and started roasting melon seeds.

The sunflower seeds are from our own homegrown sunflowers; there aren't many, but there should still be about ten or eight pounds left.

These are large sunflower seeds, not for pressing oil.

The small sunflower seeds can be pressed for oil. The larger ones are just for eating raw.

The room was fairly warm, and Zhao Da'e was a bit sleepy. He had just been exhausted, so he lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and dozed off for a few minutes.

Sometimes when Zhao Da'e is particularly tired, he takes a nap to relax his whole body, and when he gets up again, he feels much more energetic.

They say that spring brings drowsiness, autumn brings fatigue, summer brings naps, and the three months of winter are the most sleepy.

In winter, Zhao Da'e would feel sleepy as soon as he touched his pillow. When he woke up, he found Zhou Chunwen eating sunflower seeds while reading a book called "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties".

Zhou Chunwen watched it with great interest.

"Oh my, big sister, you're quite studious! Can you read?"

Zhou Chunwen scoffed, "A comic book? How many more characters do I need to know? I'll just have to make do. Big Goose, do you think Yang Guang was a good guy or a bad guy?"

"I don't know." Zhao Da'e was too lazy to comment: "What's there to comment on about a bunch of emperors who prey on the people? The books are all fake. Do you think history books would write about you, Zhou Chunwen, frying melon seeds today?"

"No way. I'm not some big shot, why would they write about me?"

Zhao Da'e shrugged: "That's it. It only writes about important figures. It even glosses over a prime minister. That stuff is for idiots. Anyone who reads it is an idiot. You're living in poverty, and you still have time to read history books. Pshaw..."

“Hiss… Big Goose, your family isn’t poor. Your parents are rich, they’re so rich they’re practically getting a divorce,” Zhou Chunwen retorted.

Zhao Da'e: "..."

How many beatings will Zhou Chunwen get in a day if he finds a girlfriend? His stubbornness is making him the next Zhao Tiesheng.

Answer 1: He kept getting beaten up.

Answer 2: Getting beaten up every day.

Answer 3: Never stop...

"Sister, please make some food. We'll be heading back soon. They probably won't be free this morning to put out the trees, and it might be lunchtime by then. I'm wondering, with so many people coming, who's going to provide lunch?"

Zhao Da'e was a little puzzled.

Theoretically speaking, she sold those two trees. The village bought them for Zhao Tiezhu's use.

So this gets complicated.

Normally, the village provides meals, but Zhao Tingming is incredibly stingy. Zhao Da'e doesn't know if the village has money, but Zhao Tingming definitely does.

Although the village had issued many IOUs and incurred a lot of debt, and these people couldn't be paid their wages, the village actually had quite a lot of assets.

Putting everything else aside, Zhao Tingming pocketed the 800 yuan Zhao Da'e received for buying the backyard two months ago. Conversely, he never pays when buying things in the village…

Although the village has little credibility, it has things that can be used to settle debts.

Zhao Da'e isn't afraid at all; she's learned a lot now. From now on, dealing with the village will be a zero-sum game—you owe me, I owe you. We'll owe each other more and see who owes the most.

Therefore, Zhao Da'e was certain that Zhao Tingming had at least some money, but expecting Zhao Tingming to provide meals was simply wishful thinking.

Since he could remember, Zhao Tingming had never cooked for anyone else.

Although Zhao Da'e went there to freeload a few meals, it was obvious that it was because Zhao Da'e wouldn't leave...

The only family left that could provide lunch was Zhao Tiezhu's family.

Zhao Da'e chuckled: "Big sister, I reckon they'll be going to Zhao Tiezhu's house for dinner later. Yes, yes, they should all go, they should all go, they should eat their fill."

There were so many people, twenty or thirty in total, who were probably all people who had worked hard for Zhao Tiezhu. It was normal for them to go out for a meal.

But I didn't do any work this morning, so even if I try hard this afternoon, I guess I can only get those two trees out. The broken board issue will have to wait until tomorrow.

If you calculate it this way, Zhao Tiezhu's family will have to provide meals for lunch, dinner, tomorrow morning, tomorrow noon, and tomorrow evening.

I'll eat him out of house and home.

Zhao Da'e thought to himself, "Dozens of people, eating for three days, what kind of family is this? They'd have to consume two or three hundred pounds of rice alone. They should at least have some dishes."

I reckon it'll be more expensive than a coffin by then.

Generally, before a funeral, people observe a seven-day mourning period. This was a custom in the past, and back then, it was always family members, especially immediate family members, who observed the mourning.

Later, it became less and less common. It turned into a three-day mourning period, and now it's practically nonexistent. That is, if someone dies on the same day, they are carried out no later than the next day.

However, something went wrong while setting up the tree today, so it won't be finished until the day after tomorrow at the earliest. We'll at least have to paint it, otherwise, another half a day of drying in the sun will be a waste.

That means the funeral will be held no earlier than the morning of the day after tomorrow.

In Dongtaizi Village, there is a custom that funerals must be held in the morning.

There's a specific technique to digging pits; they must be done before sunrise.

"To dig a pit" means to go and dig a hole.

"Yeah, it'll take a long time. He brought this on himself, but since he dared to make trouble, we can just not hold a funeral and make your village pay for it," Zhou Chunwen said.

"Tch. The village has money, why would they spoil him? Don't think he's a good catch just because he's surnamed Zhao. He's not even from our clan. We're long past the fifth degree of kinship. If we were from the same clan, he wouldn't dare. My great-grandfather would have beaten him up long ago." Zhao Da'e said, "Our clan members are all very filial. You don't know, just now that guy falsely accused me, saying I pushed his son into the well, my grandfather went up and slapped him twice across the face."

Zhao Da'e gestured wildly, saying, "There's no reason. It's just because the old man is Zhao Tiezong's uncle that he hit you. He wouldn't dare say anything else. If he dared to say anything else, my grandfather, that scoundrel, would definitely go to Zhao Tiezong's father, who is also my fourth grandfather, to complain."

“When the time comes, I reckon my fourth grandfather will beat him up too,” Zhao Da’e thought for a moment. “He’s been having a tough time these past two years, and he’s got a psychological scar. Others may not know, but I do. Zhao Tiezong had one son, then three daughters in a row. Normal people wouldn’t do that. Usually, if you have a son, you wouldn’t have more children. Otherwise, you’d have to spend money to raise them. As the saying goes, ‘A half-grown boy can bankrupt his father.’ Zhao Tiezong has four children; his family isn’t suited for having more. The only reason might be that Zhao Yongjin has some problems, or to put it simply, he’s probably sick. Otherwise, Zhao Tiezong wouldn’t be going through all this trouble, and his mentality wouldn’t be so despicable.”

Zhou Chunwen shook his head: "I don't know. What if he really is that kind of person, a complete scoundrel? Wouldn't that be illegal?"