Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

The next day, it was still dark.

The bone-chilling cold of the early morning in Kaoshantun was forcefully pushed back by a domineering, richly pungent heat.

In the open space of the Zhao family's new courtyard, a large iron pot with a diameter of one meter is placed on the earthen stove.

The pine firewood underneath crackled and popped as it burned, flames leaping up to waist height and licking the bottom of the pot.

In the pot, large slices of fatty pork, cut into palm-widths and half-finger-thicknesses, are tumbling in the soup along with pickled cabbage and wide rice noodles.

"Glug... Glug..."

The crackling sound of the fried dough sticks, along with the irresistible aroma that whets the appetite, drifted on the northwest wind like hooks into the nostrils of the surrounding neighbors.

Zhao Shanhe was wearing an apron stained with oil and holding a large iron ladle in his hand.

"Bang! Bang!"

He tapped the edge of the pot, shaking off the soup on the spoon, and yelled at the twenty-odd men in the yard who had been swallowing hard for a while:

"Don't just stand there! That's a woman's job!"

"A big bowl of mixed grain porridge for everyone, and two spoonfuls of meat and vegetables for each person! Make sure you're well-fed, otherwise, if anyone lacks the strength to work later, don't blame me, Zhao Shanhe, for cursing them!"

There's absolutely no need for mobilization.

Grandpa Liu, who was at the very front of the line, held a large bowl in both hands, which were trembling slightly.

"Clatter".

A large spoonful of glistening, fatty pork belly was poured into the bowl, and the oily broth seeped into the gaps of the mixed grain porridge, turning the grayish-white surface of the porridge a golden yellow.

Grandpa Liu ignored the heat, leaned over to the bowl, and slurped up a big mouthful.

In that instant, the old man's eyes widened suddenly, and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.

The warmth traveled down his throat and into his stomach, and the long-lost smell of meat fat instantly soothed his face, which had been weathered by the wind and snow like old tree bark.

"It smells fucking good..."

Grandpa Liu exhaled a puff of white breath, his eyes a little red:

"Shanhe, you're really something! This isn't just manual labor; it's better than what we eat during the New Year!"

The courtyard was filled with the sounds of people slurping porridge and chewing fatty meat.

These men, who usually had to be careful with their meager meals of cornbread, were now eating with gusto, their mouths greasy and their foreheads sweating.

These slices of fatty meat are the best heart tonic.

If anyone dares to say another bad word about Zhao Shanhe, these people will tear that person apart.

The sun was high in the sky.

At the west end of the village, the red brick house that is rising from the ground has already reached the position of the roof beam.

Against the backdrop of the surrounding gray, low-lying mud-brick houses, the bright and eye-catching red brick wall is like a burning fire, conspicuous, arrogant, and exuding an air of "I'm rich."

On the dirt road at the entrance of the village.

Three figures walked over, their steps unsteady.

Leading the way was Wang, the famous matchmaker from the surrounding villages.

Today she specially wore a bright red floral cotton-padded jacket, her face was painted deathly white, her lips were painted scarlet, and she was waving a handkerchief in her hand like a folk opera performer.

The girl following behind was Liu Meilan, the daughter of the village party secretary from the next village.

The girl was wearing a fashionable red wool coat and a pair of small leather shoes that were very rare in that era.

She frowned, carefully avoiding the frozen cow dung on the road, her face full of arrogance and disdain.

"This road is terrible," Liu Meilan said, covering her nose with her hand in a high-pitched voice.

Zhao Shanhai, who was walking at the back, felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

Today he specially borrowed an ill-fitting Zhongshan suit, and his hair was slicked back with wood shavings until it was shiny and glossy, as if it had been licked by a cow's tongue.

"Meilan, that's how it is in our rural area. Just bear with it, you'll get there soon."

Zhao Shanhai forced a smile, his palms sweating profusely.

He wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants, his eyes glazed as he glanced towards his old family home.

His family's dilapidated mud house had drafty windows, and there was still his third son lying in there with his pants down. The smell... if Liu Meilan smelled it, the marriage would be off on the spot.

"I'm talking about mountains and seas,"

When Wang the matchmaker raised her loud voice, it was as if she wanted the whole village to hear her:

"Didn't you say your family just built a big red brick house for your son's wedding? Where is it? Meilan is a precious daughter of the royal family. If the house isn't respectable, I won't even bother to rest my feet."

Zhao Shanhai's body stiffened, and his throat went dry.

That was just bragging he made to lure people in.

Now he was in a bind, so he could only grit his teeth and point forward, plotting how to trick people into coming to the brigade headquarters for a visit.

"It's...it's right up ahead..."

Sudden.

Liu Meilan stopped in her tracks.

Her eyes, which had been filled with disdain and criticism, suddenly lit up as she stared intently at something not far ahead.

In that gloomy village, Zhao Shanhe's red brick house, which was about to be completed, stood out like a phoenix among chickens, gleaming with a rich light in the sunlight.

The courtyard was bustling with activity, a scene befitting a prosperous household.

"that?"

Liu Meilan raised her gloved finger and pointed, her disdain instantly vanishing, replaced by a hint of surprise:

"Zhao Shanhai, is that your home?"

Matchmaker Wang's eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh:

"My goodness! Such a grand display?! Three large brick houses, and they're even made of red brick?!"

She turned around and looked at Zhao Shanhai with the eyes of someone looking at a "god of wealth":

"Shan Hai, you've been keeping this a secret! This house must cost at least a thousand or eight hundred yuan, right? Is this the wedding room prepared for Mei Lan?"

"this……"

Zhao Shanhai looked at the red brick house, his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his throat.

If she didn't acknowledge it, Liu Meilan turned and left.

If I accept it...

He glanced at the figure in the distance, who was working on the beam with his back to them.

My older brother is busy right now, he probably can't see this side.

As long as we can keep Meilan in line, once the marriage is finalized, it'll be a fait accompli...

The gambler's psychology instantly took over.

Zhao Shanhai gritted his teeth, straightened his back, and forced a fake smile that was utterly vain:

"Cough...yes."

He deliberately lowered his voice, trying to appear nonchalant:

"I've poured all my savings into marrying Meilan. As long as Meilan is happy, it's worth it."

"Oh! This child is so thoughtful!"

Matchmaker Wang was overjoyed.

Liu Meilan looked at the imposing red brick house, her face slightly flushed.

In the countryside, a man who can live in such a house has a more upright posture than anyone else.

Her spoiled princess attitude vanished instantly, and she even moved closer to Zhao Shanhai:

"Shall we go check out the layout of the new house?"

"Okay...okay."

Zhao Shanhai felt his legs were about to give way, but he forced himself to lead the two men toward Zhao Shanhe's courtyard.

Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge.

……

In the courtyard of the new house.

Zhao Shanhe was squatting on the roof beam, with half a "Great Production" sign in his mouth and an ink line in his hand, snapping lines for the carpenter.

"One, two, three, bang!"

The ink line popped out a straight black mark.

Just then, a shrill commotion erupted at the doorway.

"Hey! You've worked so hard, everyone! Please stop for a moment!"

Wang the matchmaker waved her handkerchief like a rat caught in a rice jar, and began shouting as soon as she entered the courtyard:

"Our hosts have come to see the new house! The bricks are so red, and the yard is so bright!"

The twenty-odd burly men who were working in the yard stopped in unison.

Grandpa Liu held a trowel in his hand, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. He looked at Zhao Shanhai, who swaggered in, and then at the girl in the wool coat next to him.

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Only the firewood under the pot was still crackling.

Zhao Shanhai felt dozens of gazes piercing him like needles. But he had no way out; he could only feign the air of a master, pointing at Old Liu who was building the wall, and shouting in a pretentious manner:

"Hey you... Uncle Liu, make sure this corner is built straight! Don't skimp on materials!"

"Meilan, look, this will be our east room from now on. I'm thinking of getting a large floor-to-ceiling window..."

Liu Meilan nodded in satisfaction and was about to speak.

"puff."

Zhao Shanhe spat out the cigarette butt from his mouth.

The cigarette butt, still glowing, arced through the air and landed right in front of Zhao Shanhai's spotless leather shoes.

Zhao Shanhai's words came to an abrupt halt, and the hairs on his body instantly stood on end.

He stiffly raised his head.

From the roof beam, Zhao Shanhe was looking down at him. His gaze was as if he were looking at a monkey that didn't know its own death.

Zhao Shanhe toyed with the ink-stained inkwell in his hand, his voice not loud, but it carried a mocking tone that sent chills down Zhao Shanhai's spine:

"Second brother."

Zhao Shanhe tilted his head and pointed to the muddy path leading to the old courtyard from the gate:

"If you want to find a wife, that's none of my business."

"But if you're looking for a latrine, turn left when you go out. That's your home, the latrine over there."