Seventies Sweetheart: From Breakup to Billionaire-Chapter 153: Brazier

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Brazier
Mrs. Lin is now completely disappointed in her family, especially Aunt Lin.
She knew she was not a clever person and tended to be soft-hearted towards her family, fearing once again being manipulated by Aunt Lin. So she simply hid in the kitchen, avoiding any confrontation with her.
After Mrs. Lin entered the kitchen, Dong Sheng finally opened the door, "Aunt, what brings you here?"
"Where’s your second aunt? I need her to come out, I have something to discuss with her."
"My second aunt is not here."
"She hasn’t gone to the construction site, nor is she at home. Where else could she be?"
Dong Sheng replied nonchalantly, "Listen to what you’re saying. My second aunt has her own legs; she can go wherever she wants. Does she really need to inform me, a child? That’s unreasonable."
Aunt Lin wanted to hit someone.
Not a single Lin family member is decent!
This young fellow here is just as annoying as Lin Xiang!
Aunt Lin suppressed her anger and instructed Dong Sheng, "When your second aunt returns, tell her I have something to discuss. Ask her to come to my house."
After speaking, Aunt Lin turned and left.
It wasn’t until her figure completely disappeared that Dong Sheng closed the door and went to the kitchen to find Mrs. Lin.
Chunya had also finished preparing dinner. Although it wasn’t as delicious as what Lin Xiang cooked, it still tasted good.
Mrs. Lin placed the dishes on the table, took out an empty bowl, and set aside some food for Lin Xiang. When she saw Dong Sheng come in, she asked, "What does she want from me?"
"She didn’t say, just mentioned there was something urgent and asked you to go to her house when you return."
"Let’s not worry about her now, let’s eat first."
After dinner, Mrs. Lin continued making sweet potato noodles in the yard.
By the time the sun had set, and the yard was shrouded in darkness, making it hard to see, Mrs. Lin finally moved the noodle-making materials under the eaves.
Dong Sheng had already prepared hot water and called for Mrs. Lin to wash up.
Just as they finished washing, Lin Xiang, along with Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt, returned.
Fifth Uncle didn’t speak but gulped down the white water Mrs. Lin had set out for cooling.
After drinking, he sat on the stool for a while before saying, "We’ve basically finished the main structure of the house today. At this rate, in about three more days, the house will be complete. Then, after two or three days, you can move in."
Initially, it was planned for ten workers to work for ten days. Later, under Lin Xiang’s insistence, five more workers were added. Thus, in less than six days, the house will be completely finished.
"Old Five, thank you for your hard work."
"Sister-in-law, don’t mention it. You and your daughter have helped us a lot, too. Supervising the construction of a house isn’t much trouble."
Fifth Aunt approached Mrs. Lin and quietly asked, "Sister-in-law, did your elder sister-in-law come looking for you today?"
Mrs. Lin asked back, "Did she also come looking for you?"
"Of course she did! She sought out the girl, asking for her husband and eldest son to help with the house construction right off the bat."
Mrs. Lin was puzzled, "She’s usually the most afraid of losing out. Why would she be so kind to help with construction? Is she looking to earn wages?"
From what Mrs. Lin knew, Lin Xiang’s uncle-in-law and eldest cousin were not skilled in construction. Even if they helped, they would only be paid at the lowest rate, with the father and son earning at most sixty cents a day each. With three more days to go, their total earnings wouldn’t exceed two yuan.
Two yuan is not insignificant for rural folks, but from what Mrs. Lin understood about Aunt Lin, she was definitely someone who wouldn’t act without profit, so her target couldn’t be just that wage money.
"Didn’t her eldest son recently start seeing someone? The girl’s family demanded a house before discussing marriage. So I was thinking, could it be that she’s after your new house? If she gets her husband and son to help, she’ll have something to say later."
Knowing that Lin Xiang couldn’t say some things, Fifth Aunt advised Mrs. Lin, "Sister-in-law, I know I don’t have the standing to say these things, but you have to be mindful. You’ve worked so hard to have this house built; it’s the home for you and your daughter. Don’t let it slip away because of a moment of soft-heartedness, otherwise where will you and the girl live?"
Mrs. Lin knew Fifth Aunt meant well and wasn’t upset.
"Gui Fen, don’t worry, I understand."
No matter how much she cared about her family, she wouldn’t foolishly give away her new house!
Aunt Lin’s plans were completely dashed!
The house wasn’t entirely complete yet when it rained again the next day.
Winter rain comes, making the temperature drop even more.
Lin Xiang and Mrs. Lin snuggled under a thick quilt, huddled together for warmth.
Lin Xiang somewhat missed the times she spent in Hei Province before, where the heated beds were so warm in the winter. You could lie there for a whole day, not wanting to leave the cozy quilt.
But Ji Province isn’t as cold as Hei Province, so there aren’t good heating methods.
"Knock, knock—"
Fifth Aunt knocked on the door outside, "Sister-in-law, girl, I’ve made a fire pot and will bring it into your room to warm you up a bit."
"Okay, you can come in." Mrs. Lin replied, her teeth chattering from the cold.
Fifth Aunt, wearing a cotton-padded jacket, brought the fire pot in and opened the window slightly, "Since there’s charcoal burning inside, the window must be left ajar; otherwise, it’s easy to get poisoned. Alright, you get some rest, I’m heading back."
The fire pot wasn’t very big, but at least it provided some warmth.
However, with the window open, the little warmth was quickly blown away by the biting wind outside, and Lin Xiang still felt very cold.
"Mom, once our new house is finished, let’s have Fifth Aunt buy some cotton from her family so we can each sew a new quilt."
There’s no air conditioning, no floor heating, no radiator.
This winter is truly unbearable.
"A single quilt requires at least ten yuan worth of new cotton, and two quilts would be twenty yuan. Where would we get that kind of money?"
Even if we had it, after building the new house, Mrs. Lin is reluctant to take out more money to make quilts.
"That’s right, let me find my gloves and put on an extra pair of socks, that would at least keep us warmer."
"Mom, can you also get my insoles out?"
Lin Xiang had already dried the insoles by the fire pot in the evening, but recently, wearing them while walking dozens of miles every day, the fur on the top layer had been flattened, and they weren’t as comfortable or warm as before.
Still, Lin Xiang stood barefoot on the insoles, put on a pair of thick socks, and then gloves; although still cold, it wasn’t as bad.
The mother and daughter huddled together, listening to the pattering rain outside, gradually falling into a dream.
In the morning, it was still drizzling.
The roads were waterlogged, so construction couldn’t proceed, nor could they go to the market.
Lin Xiang didn’t often get to sleep in, but Mrs. Lin had already gotten up, while she turned over, unwilling to rise.