Xu Ling was helped home by his family. He was originally going to leave Fan Shiqing to sleep at Gu's house, but the old man was half drunk and half awake, but he didn't like it.
Helpless, Xu Ling had to take him home and let him sleep on the cart in the woodshed for the time being.
Fan Shiqing readily agreed.
Xu Ling was really drunk this time, and he didn't have much memory when he went back. When he woke up again, it was already the second day, it was dark outside, and he was the only one left on the bed.
He slept for more than five hours at most a day outside. He hadn't slept so comfortably for a long time, feeling refreshed and without a headache.
Xu Ling stretched and sat up and put on his clothes. It was still cold outside, but at least the sun was out.
"Where's Xu Renren? I'll ask Lao Wang to build a house. Let's discuss how many rooms to build first."
Early in the morning, Gu Litian couldn't sleep and looked for acquaintances in the village who knew how to build houses, hoping to build the Xu family's new house before the New Year.
Xu Ling quickly got dressed and went out, "Dad, why did you get up so early?"
Gu Litian didn't scold him, he just said: "If you don't build the house early, it will be difficult to build it when it snows."
The villager he found was named Wang Li. Although he was also from Lianhuawanzi, his family lived downstream, which was quite far away.
Wang Li, who was about the same age as Gu Litian, smiled and said to him: "I heard from people that your son-in-law is a money-maker, and now a new house is being built."
Gu Litian also smiled and said: "It was useless before, but now I am making a little money, so it is time to build a new house, otherwise there will be more people in the house and we will not be able to live in it!"
Xu Ling called him uncle, and Wang Li didn't waste time and directly discussed with him how to build a new house.
Either demolish the current house and build a new one on the original foundation, or find another place in the village to build a new house.
Xu Ling thought for a while. If he demolished the house, his family would have no place to live, so he chose the second option.
Looking for another piece of land, Xu Ling thought it would be good next to his house. They originally lived on the edge of the village, with few serious neighbors, a large piece of wasteland, and these days there is no difference between a homestead and a field. As long as no one in the village is looking for trouble, you can build whatever you want.
Xu Ling first went to the village to inquire about it, but he didn't hear that anyone wanted the wasteland near his home. At noon, Wang Li found a dozen young and strong men in the village to weed first and then dig the foundation.
Gu Litian and Gu Daliang, father and son, were not idle either. They carried a bag of candy and walked for an hour to Youping Village at the foot of the mountain to find someone to buy wood.
The matter of buying bricks and tiles fell on Xu Ling.
After lunch, Xu Ling went to town. Zhao Zhen's aunt Wang lives in a village near the town. Before paying back the money, he has to go to the Yamen first.
"Dare you ask Sun Baoyao if Master Sun is in the Yamen?"
Xu Ling carried a piece of pork neck meat and a jug of wine on a straw rope and went to the Yamen to find Sun Baoyao.
I heard that Sun Baoyao had just finished his labor service and was taking a rest at home today. A young man volunteered to take Xu Ling to Sun Baoyao's home to find someone.
Erfang Town is a poor place with no special planning. The houses on both sides of the road are a bit shabby compared to other places. However, there are always people who live in better places. For example, Sun Baoyao's small courtyard has white walls and black tiles. There is a tree planted in the yard behind the door. A rose tree and vines climbed to the top of the door, creating a shade.
The person who opened the door for Xu Ling was a young woman. When she learned that Xu Ling was looking for Sun Baoyao, she quickly went in to communicate.
After Xu Ling waited for a while, he heard Sun Baoyao's voice.
The others haven't arrived yet, the voice has arrived first.
"Brother Xu, how did you find me at home?"
Sun Baoyao warmly welcomed Xu Ling into the house and asked the woman to bring tea and water. After some busy work, Xu Ling explained the reason.
He went to see Sun Baoyao today for two things. One was to use Sun Baoyao's help to repay the Wang family's money.
Second, he wants to ask Sun Baoyao which brick-burning shop in the town is good. He will buy at least a thousand yuan. If Sun Baoyao has an acquaintance, wouldn't it be a smooth process and Sun Baoyao can make some money?
To put it bluntly, sophistication in human relationships means firstly not being afraid of trouble, and secondly, going in circles.
Take out a piece of pork and pass it through the hands of several people until it is stained with oil and water. This is the way to make money.
Sure enough, Sun Baoyao burst out laughing after hearing this, and quickly praised Xu Ling: "Brother Xu is really young and promising. He is going to build a new house so soon? Don't worry, since I have spoken, there is no reason for me not to help. I will talk to you soon." You go to Wang’s house!”
Xu Ling's face was filled with joy, he stood up and bent over, holding his hands in his hands, and wanted to invite Sun Baoyao to a restaurant in town for dinner.
Sun Baoyao was helped by the young woman to change into clothes for going out, and then left home.
The two first went to Wang's home. Her sons Liu Shun and Sun Baoyao were also colleagues, and they also heard about Wang's loan.
"Brother Xu, don't worry, if the Wang family still refuses to settle the debt with you after a while, I will ask for justice for you even if I go to the master!"
After knocking on the door, a person quickly walked out of the room and said, "Who is it!"
Xu Ling recognized that it was Wang's voice and said quickly: "Aunt Wang, I am Xu Ling, and I'm here to pay you back!"
Wang's eyelids twitched, she didn't expect Xu Ling to save enough money so quickly.
She quickly went back to the house to discuss with her man: "I don't know where this guy got his money. Should we ask him forty taels, or should we let him spit out some more?"
Her man, Liu Ding, wanted to be more honest and said: "After all, he is from the same village as Zhen'er, so let's forget it this time!"
"You good-for-nothing! Even if we don't collect debts this time, someone like him will sell his wife and daughter for an advantage next time! Didn't you see it last time? His wife is really good-looking!"
Xu Ling clearly heard the footsteps. No one came out to open the door after a long time, so he raised his voice and called a few more times.
Then I heard Wang shouting: "It's coming, it's coming! What's your name?"
When Wang opened the door, as soon as his eyes turned to Xu Ling, he saw Sun Baoyao standing beside him.
Sun Baoyao didn't wait for her to attack, and stepped forward and said: "Aunt Wang, I am Liu Shun's colleague, my name is Sun Baoyao. This is my brother Xu Ling. I am accompanying him to pay off his debt."
Wang's eyes were filled with uncertainty, fearing that Xu Ling had deliberately sent someone to defraud her, and her expression was not good-looking. "Xu Ling, I lent you money for the sake of my nephew's wife. It's not easy for you, so I'll give you a discount." When it reaches forty taels, do you not even want to return these forty taels to me? There is no such reason in the world!"
Xu Ling was amused when he saw her trying to preemptively strike. He took out his purse and poured out forty taels of silver so that she could see clearly.
"Aunt Wang, what are you talking about? Brother Sun just went out to do some work and came with me for a while. Isn't this the money I owe you that I will pay back to you?"
Mrs. Wang quickly took the silver, fearing it was a fake. She held it up and looked at it again and again. After confirming that it was genuine, she had an uncertain expression on her face.
But when he saw Sun Baoyao here, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and go into the house, take out the IOU, and return it to Xu Ling.
From then on, the most pressing guillotine on Xu Ling's head was gone.
