Looking at the noisy crowd, Yi Zhonghai hit the table hard with the teapot again, "Since everyone can't reach a unanimous opinion on repairing the house together, let's repair it individually. I'll repair the old lady's house. There is nothing I can do for the poor households.”
Everyone present fell silent and looked at Yi Zhonghai, who had always been the opinion leader among them. There was determination and helplessness in his words. He knew that it was almost impossible to satisfy everyone. In this case, we can only do our own thing.
The crowd began to disperse, and Su Wen and Xu Damao walked back to the backyard side by side, "Su Wen, is your house going to be repaired this time?"
Su Wen looked at Xu Damao and said thoughtfully: "Xiu, why not repair it? It's almost winter, and the winter will be warmer now that it's repaired."
"Okay, then let's repair it together. You go to the master and we can repair it together and talk about the price."
Su Wen nodded, "Okay, I'll go find Master Wang at the street office. It should be cheaper if we two work together. We can repair it together and share the cost."
Xu Damao also nodded, "Then it's settled. I'll prepare the materials and let's start construction as soon as possible."
"Da Mao, Su Wen, my house also needs repairs. When you call me master, remember to bring my house with you." The second uncle's voice came from under the Chuihua Gate.
"Okay, second uncle, I'm going to call Master Wang over now, and we'll talk face to face."
"Su Wen, there's no need to be in such a hurry. You can just look for him tomorrow."
"Second uncle, this time the house repairs were notified by the street office. Do you think there will be fewer people repairing the houses? We won't know when we will go there tomorrow." After Su Wen finished speaking, he left on his bicycle. Siheyuan.
Arriving at Master Wang's house, "Is Master Wang at home?" Su Wen shouted at the door of Master Wang's house, but no one responded.
Su Wen was a little anxious, he knew time was running out. So, he decided to ask nearby neighbors to see if there was any news about Master Wang.
He asked the neighbors and learned that Master Wang was here just now talking to a stranger about repairing the house. Su Wen knew that he was late. Master Wang has been called away by others.
Su Wen returned to the courtyard and told Xu Damao and the second uncle the news before going home.
"Awen, there are so many jobs here. You can go to my second uncle's house. My second uncle worked for people in Sijiu City before the founding of the People's Republic of China. Later, he heard that his hometown was divided into land and went back to his hometown. If he hadn't gone back to his hometown at that time, If the land is divided, he can stay in the city as a worker, and there are several people in our village who went back with him." Wang Qianqian recommended her second uncle to Su Wen.
"Okay, I'll go there tomorrow. Don't talk about it in the courtyard. Don't let the people in the courtyard know that we are relatives, otherwise there will be a lot of trouble."
"Okay, I understand what you mean."
Early the next morning, Su Wen rode his bicycle to Wang Qianqian's natal home in Dawangzhuang. "Aven, didn't you just come back a few days ago? Why are you here again?" His father-in-law looked surprised when he saw Su Wen.
"Dad, I have something to come to see my second uncle. My house needs to be repaired. The masters in Sijiu City have to queue up. Qianqian said that my second uncle has done this before, so I'll come and ask."
"That's it, then I'll call your second uncle." After the father-in-law finished speaking, he went to call his second uncle.
After a while, a middle-aged man walked in from outside the house. He looked a little haggard, but his eyes were bright. This is Wang Qianqian's second uncle, a carpenter who once worked in Sijiu City.
Su Wen quickly stepped forward to say hello, "Second uncle, hello."
The second uncle smiled and nodded. "I heard from your dad that you want me to repair your house. I'm pretty good at it and I've been doing this job all these years. Do you have any other requests?"
"Second uncle, it's like this. We received news that a house collapsed and killed someone nearby. This time the house repairs were required by the street office, and the masters in the city had too much work to do. What I mean is that you shouted A few of us went over to work together. We should be able to get a lot of work this time. We should open letters of introduction in the village. When we arrive at my house, it is best for you, me and Qianqian to pretend that we don’t know each other. Someone in our courtyard will definitely ask you to work. Live, you don’t have to worry about our relationship with them, just collect money how you want.”
After hearing this, the second uncle nodded, "No problem, I will do it as you ask. Since it is a notice from the street office, there will definitely be a lot of work. I will contact a few people with good skills as soon as possible, and work together Come work at your place. As for you and Qianqian and I pretending not to know each other, I understand what you mean and we will cooperate well."
Su Wen was very pleased when he heard his second uncle's answer, "Then I'll trouble you, second uncle. I'll wait here and let's go back together."
"You go back first. I'll find someone to go there by myself. We don't have bicycles." The second uncle touched his head in embarrassment.
Su Wen nodded, "Okay, uncle, I'll go back first. You guys set off early tomorrow and try to finish it for me in one day. My address is in the west wing of the backyard of No. 95 Nanluogu Lane. Qianqian's mother is here At home. If you shout for a higher price, I will give you the wages and you will keep it."
The second uncle smiled and said: "Don't worry, Awen, I will do it according to your request. As for the price, I will set it based on the market conditions and I won't let you suffer."
"Second uncle, you got it wrong. What I mean is that you raise the price a little higher. If a job costs ten yuan, you charge twelve yuan. If I give you the money, you can take it and let others see it."
After hearing this, the second uncle laughed loudly, "I understand, Awen, you are really a clever guy. Okay, let's do it like this. I will definitely raise the price higher and let others see what we are capable of."
Su Wen smiled, and after seeing his second uncle off with his father-in-law, he had a drink with his father-in-law, left twenty yuan and some bills for the old man, and left on his bicycle.
Early the next morning, Su Wen went to work as usual. During the lunch break, Su Wen returned to his home in the courtyard. His second uncle was leading six people to repair the house of Su Wen's family. Seeing Su Wen coming over, he said, "There is nothing wrong with your house, except that the roof is a little damaged and it may leak if there is a heavy rain. There is nothing wrong with anything else."
Su Wen took out a box of large front doors and handed it to his second uncle, "Uncle, I'm here to ask if there are many of you? You can sleep in the westmost room at night. You just have to squeeze in."
The second uncle took the cigarette and said with a smile: "Awen, you are so attentive. Don't worry, we will do the job well. As for accommodation, we can just set up a tent ourselves, so we don't need to trouble you."
Su Wen nodded, "Okay, second uncle, if you need anything, just tell me."
