Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

The next day, when Xu Bei opened his eyes, he could feel the north wind howling outside and hear the sound of snowflakes hitting the plastic film nailed to the outside of the window.

He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and leaned to the end of the kang (a heated brick bed) to lift a corner of the curtain.

Then, I discovered that it was snowing heavily outside, not the kind of heavy, fluffy snowflakes, but it wasn't light either.

It probably started snowing around midnight, otherwise there wouldn't be such a thick layer of snow on the ground in the yard, on the woodpile, and on the barn.

Besides chopping firewood, shoveling snow was also an essential task for those living in single-story houses during the winter.

Xu Bei rubbed his face to refresh himself, then lifted the mattress on the kang (heated brick bed) and quickly pulled out the cotton-padded trousers and jacket underneath, putting them on.

Zhao Fengying, a housewife, is still the first person in the family to get up.

In the outer room, on the side of the east room, firewood crackled and popped as it burned in the stove, and the water in the kettle sitting on the stove was almost boiling.

Hearing movement from the west room, she approached the door and whispered, "Son, you're awake? How many steamed buns did you eat this morning?"

Xu Bei's voice came clearly through the door, "I'm awake, Mom. Five or six is ​​enough."

"Okay. Then hurry up and get up, sweep the snow out the door, otherwise your dad will start nagging when he gets home from his night shift."

After receiving a response, Zhao Fengying carried the aluminum basin out of the house and went to collect dry food from the large vat in the storeroom.

After Xu Bei got dressed, he didn't rush to brush his teeth or wash his face.

Instead, they went outside and picked up a broom and shovel leaning against the wall, and began taking turns sweeping the snow in their yard.

There's an old saying that goes, "It's not cold when it snows, it's cold when the snow melts," and there's some truth to that.

Xu Bei swept from the front door of the house all the way to the main gate of the yard, clearing a path for walking, and felt a little sweaty.

Outside the gate.

Many neighbors also came out to shovel snow.

It's not just the men in the house.

There were also some women and teenagers.

Xu Bei was sweeping snow in front of his house when he saw Wang Da Niang, who lived in the same house as them, also coming out with a broom, wearing bulky cotton-padded trousers and a cotton-padded jacket.

He knew that this Granny Wang had a good relationship with his mother, and that she had bought two stools on the first day of selling them, so he greeted her warmly.

"Good morning, Aunt Wang."

Aunt Wang, with her kind face, immediately smiled and praised, "Oh, Xu boy, you're quite capable. You've almost finished cleaning everything. You're much more diligent than your third brother Wang."

Xu Bei shamelessly boasted to himself, "I'm just averagely capable, but what can I do? I'm the only son in my family."

Aunt Wang had watched Xu Bei grow up since he was a child, and for some reason, she felt that the child had changed a lot recently.

"That's true. If you don't do it, your dad is too busy at work, so your mom and your sister will have to do it."

"yes."

Xu Bei originally planned to chat for a few minutes before returning to the yard to continue his work of expanding the snow-clearing area.

As a result, they saw Granny Wang approaching with a broom, and she even glanced furtively at the other families in their row of houses.

Then, lowering her voice, she asked, "Young Xu, did the old lady say you offended that old woman from the Wan family?"

Xu Bei certainly remembered that day when he dragged the stool back and ran into Old Wan's wife who was emptying coal ash and said that she must have made a lot of money. He retorted with a few words.

However, one must pretend to know nothing about it.

"Aunt Wang, why do you say that?"

Aunt Wang glanced behind her again before whispering, "They came to visit us yesterday and said some bad things about you."

"And didn't I ask your mom to buy two stools? She kept telling me that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and that she must have made a lot of money..."

Xu Bei laughed, feeling somewhat speechless.

It's not that I'm afraid of bad things happening, it's that I'm afraid of a lack of good people.

However, he didn't see this little provocation as a big deal.

"Aunt Wang, you know this stool is better made and of higher quality than the ones sold at Peking University, and it's cheaper too! It didn't cost much, you're making a killing!"

Aunt Wang spoke frankly, "That's true. Not only are they cheap, but they're also very reliable. I'm even thinking of buying a few more to keep for the New Year when Uncle Wang gets his salary."

Xu Bei said matter-of-factly, "So, Aunt Wang, you don't need to listen to what others are saying. Some people just can't stand to see others doing well. They're happy to see our two families have become suspicious and estranged because of this."

Just then, Xu Juan's voice came from the courtyard.

"Brother, Mom told you to finish sweeping and go back to your room to prepare dinner."

Xu Bei replied, "Okay, I'll be right there."

Aunt Wang patted his arm. "Don't worry, young Xu, I know what I'm doing. Go back inside and eat."

Also, this is something we've discussed separately, so don't tell your mom. Otherwise, she'll get easily angered and start another argument.

Xu Bei hadn't intended to tell his mother about this right away and ruin her mood, so he went along with it and said, "Okay, Aunt Wang, I'll listen to you."

After placing his tools against the wall, Xu Bei brushed the snow off his shoes and trouser legs before opening the door and going inside.

Zhao Fengying saw her son and a neighbor talking at the gate and casually asked, "Is your Aunt Wang out shoveling snow too?"

Xu Bei replied with a smile, "That's right. Aunt Wang even praised me, saying I'm more capable than her husband, Wang San."

Zhao Fengying was naturally happy to hear others praising her son. "What else is there to say? My son is just so capable."

Seeing that Xu Juan had finally finished her exams, relieved of her burden, and taken a nap, looking particularly energetic, Xu Bei teased her, "You're praising your son's competence right in front of your daughter. Aren't you afraid she'll get jealous?"

Xu Juan quickly replied, "No way! My brother is so capable; you do most of the housework."

Xu Bei smiled and ruffled his sister's hair. "I'm a real man, it's only right that I do some work."

The topic was quickly moved on, and everyone sat down together to eat breakfast.

Just as Xu Bei finished eating and put down his bowl, preparing to pack up and head to the city, Xu Dashan also returned from get off work.

The father and son don't have many opportunities to meet now, so naturally they don't talk much.

Seeing his son, full of energy, about to run out again, Xu Dashan frowned.

Xu Bei knows his father very well.

All those years of being cursed in past and present lives weren't for nothing.

He didn't give the other person a chance to speak before slipping away on his secondhand bicycle.

By the time we arrived in the city by the small train and then rushed to the black market, it was already past nine in the morning.

The number of people in the black market did not decrease significantly despite the snowfall.

On the contrary, it felt like there were more people than yesterday.

Old Scar was dressed the same as yesterday, and immediately came over when he saw him arrive.

However, Xu Bei keenly sensed that the other party seemed to have changed...