Chapter 24
◎Steamed Flower Buns◎
Since Yu Juanfang had announced they were going to build a house, Tangtang and Su Juesheng would run to the river and fields every day after school. Sometimes they would collect a basket of pebbles from the river, other times they would dig up half a dustpan of clay from the fields, and sometimes they would bring back a large bundle of crushed wheat straw from the fields. All of these could be used for building the house.
In September, Su Juesheng successfully graduated from Hongqi Commune Middle School and was promoted to Yuanlin County High School. Su Juexiao also graduated from Yuhuai Village Primary School and entered Hongqi Commune to attend the first year of junior high. The two children’s promotions went much smoother than expected, which made Su Huimin overjoyed.
Although diplomas and academic qualifications were not highly valued now—farmers who hadn’t graduated from primary school could become county party secretaries, while university graduates returned to their hometowns to farm and contribute to agricultural production—and such propaganda was rampant, although Yu Juan had only graduated from primary school, her thinking was consistent with her husband’s. They both hoped that their children could study more. Even if they returned to the fields to be farmers in the future, with more education, they would have a broader perspective when encountering things.
Yu Juanfang pulled two fresh radishes from her private plot. Before going home, she made a detour to the allocated homestead.
Their homestead was at the west end of the village, not far from the old house. It was particularly spacious, and the terrain was very good. It was high, flat, and open, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun. There was also a ditch in front for drainage. She hadn’t actually measured it, but she estimated it to be one or two hundred square meters. On the empty space to the left, there were already two small mountain-like piles of pebbles.
Yu Juanfang had originally planned to build an adobe house, but Su Huimin said to wait until the second half of the year to build it. There was still more than half a year left, so she decided to take advantage of this time to make more braised meat to sell and save up more money. Then, she could build a brick and tile house. A brick and tile house was stronger and more durable than an adobe house, and it also looked more impressive.
She now had more than one thousand seven hundred yuan saved up. After the autumn harvest, Yu Juanfang and Su Huimin spent several nights drawing a simple “design plan” for the house.
However, most of the time it was Yu Juanfang who was talking, and Su Huimin drew the plan according to her ideas.
“The main hall should be in the center and designed to be spacious, for eating and storing some miscellaneous things. When guests come, there will also be a decent place to entertain them.”
“Alright, a bigger main hall is good.” Su Huimin had already drawn a rough outline of the house on a draft paper.
“And the bedrooms, they have to be separated for the children. We can’t be squeezed together like this anymore, especially since Tangtang is growing up and should have her own space.”
Su Juesheng was also in high school now, so it was really not appropriate for them to sleep in the same room anymore.
Yu Juanfang glanced at the messy clothes and boxes in the corner. Because there was no place to put them, they were squeezed together and wrinkled. “The bedroom should also have a place for a wardrobe. We’ll find a carpenter to make a few wardrobes then. Although we don’t have many clothes, it’s not decent to wear them out when they’re all wrinkled from being pressed in a box.”
Yu Juanfang leaned closer to look at the drawing. “I want the kitchen to be on the east side, so it can get the morning sun and be sheltered from the wind. The stove should be bigger, for cooking, boiling water, and for warmth in the winter.”
Su Huimin enthusiastically followed his wife’s lead. “A big stove is good. We can build a few more stove mouths, one for stewing, one for stir-frying, and a small one for boiling hot water. We can also build a cutting table of a suitable height in the courtyard, so we don’t have to bend over to cut vegetables.”
The old house didn’t have a dedicated cutting table. They usually cut vegetables on the table or simply squatted by the well, which was very tiring every time.
Speaking of the courtyard, Su Huimin’s interest grew even stronger. “In our courtyard, we have to build a chicken coop to raise a few chickens. It will be convenient for both eggs and meat. We also have to dig a cellar in the courtyard to store radishes, potatoes, and cabbage. That way, our family can also have meat in the winter.”
“When the house is built, we can set up a grape trellis in the courtyard. In the summer, we can eat in the courtyard, it will be cool. We can also open up a vegetable patch in this position. I’ll plant spinach and snake gourds, so we won’t have to worry about vegetables for the whole summer.”
Yu Juanfang and Su Huimin looked at each other, their hearts feeling warm.
They were finally going to have a home of their own.
The Yu family’s house was not big enough. Before Yu Juanfang got married, the dining table in the kitchen was her fixed residence. After she got married, she lived in the south room of the Su family’s old house. The walls were blackened by soot. A large family lived under one roof, cramped and noisy. She had given birth to three children there. Now, her eldest son was in high school, and they could finally build a new house.
Although Su Huimin was a cadre, he was still a farmer at his roots. The greatest wish of a farmer in his lifetime was to build a new house.
The next morning, the construction of Tangtang’s family’s house began with a rumble.
There were a total of three craftsmen. In addition, Su Huimin would come to the site to help after work. Yu Juanfang was in charge of cooking and logistical support. Every day, she would buy meat, specifically choosing fatty pork belly with more fat than lean meat, and tried her best to make the dishes oily enough. She was busy coming and going every day, in a flurry of activity.
Zhang Guixiang had just returned from her parents’ home when she saw that construction had begun on the homestead of the third brother’s family at the west end of the village. Her face changed. How long had it been since the family was divided, and the third brother and his wife were actually going to build a house?
She had heard Yu Juanfang and Su Huimin talking about building a house before. At that time, she had only sneered, thinking that the third brother and his wife were daydreaming, and had never taken it seriously. In those days, building a new house was not something that could be done just by talking about it.
Who knew that the third brother and his wife were actually going to build a house?
She returned to the Su family’s old house with a sullen face and happened to see Yu Yahong preparing to go out with a basket.
“The third brother and his family have hired craftsmen to build a house. Do you know about this?”
Yu Yahong gave her a strange look. “I know. The third brother’s wife and the third brother were discussing this last month and didn’t hide it from anyone.”
“Tell me, where did the third brother and his wife get the money to build a house? Even if the third brother has a fixed monthly salary, it’s impossible for them to save enough money to build a house so quickly.” Zhang Guixiang suspected that there was something fishy going on.
“Do you think… the third brother and his wife secretly hid money before the family was divided and had been planning to build a house for a long time?” Zhang Guixiang gritted her teeth secretly. If it was money from before the family was divided, then the other three branches should also have a share in the money for building the house.
“How is that possible? Before the family was divided, the third brother’s salary was handed over every month. How could he have secretly saved money?” Yu Yahong found Zhang Guixiang’s idea ridiculous. After a while, she couldn’t help but let out a strange laugh. “The third brother’s wife is steaming flower buns in the kitchen. If you’re really curious about where they got the money to build a house, you can just go and ask her.”
After saying that, Yu Yahong turned and went out.
Zhang Guixiang silently went into the kitchen. Yu Juanfang had just lifted the lid of the pot, and the steam mixed with the fragrance of flour instantly filled the air. A tray of flower buns had already been steamed inside. The round flower buns were bigger than a fist. Yu Juanfang gently pressed one with her hand and it bounced back. Tangtang was helping to sprinkle red dates and red beans on the raw bun dough.
Today was the first day of construction for their new house. Eating flower buns was for good luck.
Zhang Guixiang glanced at the flower buns. Although she didn’t want to admit it, she had to say that these flower buns were steamed really well. They were plump, round, and had an alluring color. The whole kitchen was filled with the fragrance of flower buns. She took out the garlic sprouts from her basket and started picking them, waiting for Yu Juanfang to call her to eat the flower buns.
But she waited and waited, and still didn’t hear Yu Juanfang say anything. So, she simply went over herself. “Third Sister-in-law, are you steaming flower buns?”
“Yes, we’re starting construction today. We’re steaming some flower buns for good luck.” Yu Juanfang put the steamed flower buns into a basket. “Tangtang, go and call your brother back. Let him go with you to your grandmother’s house to deliver the flower buns.”
“I know, Mom.” Tangtang rolled down the sleeves of her clothes, picked up the bamboo basket, and walked out.
“…” Zhang Guixiang watched as Tangtang went out with the bamboo basket. From beginning to end, there was no intention of letting her eat one. She sneered. Since the family was divided, these sisters-in-law were treating her, the eldest sister-in-law, with less and less respect. “Third Sister-in-law, where did you get the money to build a house?”
Even if Su Huimin’s monthly salary was 30 yuan, he could at most save two or three hundred yuan a year. It was impossible to build a house without a thousand yuan.
“Oh.” Yu Juanfang smiled and casually made up an excuse. “Part of it is from Third Brother’s salary, and the rest was borrowed. Third Brother’s job is stable now, so we’re not worried about not being able to pay it back.”
Zhang Guixiang’s face instantly turned gloomy. She crossed her arms and snorted coldly. “Borrow money? It’s easy to say. Who isn’t living on a tight budget these days? Who would have spare money to lend out? I think you two secretly hid money before the family was divided!”
Hearing this, Yu Juanfang couldn’t help but laugh in anger. Zhang Guixiang was forcing them to prove where the money came from. “Eldest Sister-in-law, spreading rumors will make your tongue rot. How the family’s assets were divided, everyone knows clearly. When Third Brother was at Yuhuai Village Primary School, his monthly salary was 18 yuan. Did he hand it over on time every month? If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask Mom! We just started construction today, I don’t have the time to argue with you about this. If you’re really not satisfied, you can report it to the brigade committee and let the brigade cadres judge for you!”
After Yu Juanfang finished speaking, she felt the anger in her heart dissipate. For all these years, Zhang Guixiang had always put on the airs of the eldest sister-in-law, ordering people around at every turn. Now that the family was divided, there was no need to endure it and maintain a superficial harmony.
Wangxiang Village was four li from Yuhuai Village. Tangtang and her third brother, Su Juesheng, took turns carrying the things. It took them more than half an hour to reach the Yu family’s home in Wangxiang Village.
Just as they reached the front of the village, they saw their uncle, Yu Laowu, carrying a hoe. The two children ran forward. “Uncle.”
“Tangtang, Juesheng? Why are you here?”
“We’re starting to build a house at home today. Mom asked us to bring you some flower buns.”
“Your family is building a house?” Yu Laowu was also happy to hear that. He had heard that his eldest sister’s family had been divided, and his brother-in-law had been transferred to the commune to be a cadre. Their life must be better than before, but he didn’t expect them to be able to build a house so soon. Yu Laowu took the two children’s hands. “Let’s go home. I’ll ask your grandmother to make you something delicious…”
Yu Laowu took Tangtang and Su Juesheng home and told them about Yu Juanfang’s plan to build a house, which made the Yu family overjoyed.
“Brother-in-law has been transferred to the commune to be an education specialist, and the children are all good children. The new house is also being built…”
“You must inform us in advance on the day of the beam-raising ceremony so we can come and help.”
“You’ve finally made it through the hard times.”
Mother Yu accepted the flower buns and stuffed a large piece of meat jerky into each of the two children’s hands for them to chew on. She also insisted on stuffing a yuan into each of their pockets, but the two sensible children refused. After delivering the flower buns, they broke free from Mother Yu’s hand and ran home.