Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 60

Zhou Yuren really took this matter seriously. After dinner, he sat at the door smoking his pipe, pondering when the major battle would begin.

Because machinery was not well-developed, if the county wanted to undertake any large-scale projects, such as building reservoirs, repairing river embankments, clearing waterways, planting trees, or irrigating terraced fields, many villages would be organized to work together.

Commonly known as a "mass campaign," this campaign was theoretically a work-for-relief program, where participants would receive wages or work points from the village. However, since the village lacked funds, they only provided work points, which were then used to offset the grain tax they were required to pay later.

Relatively speaking, it's reasonable.

However, large-scale campaigns are usually organized in the spring. Now it's already winter, and the weather is getting colder and colder. When the north wind blows, it's bone-chillingly cold.

The grain has been stored away, and people are all staying indoors for the winter. There's nothing much to do, so repairing the river embankment is impractical. It'll be frozen over soon, and repairing the embankment then seems a bit absurd.

The reservoir dam cannot be built at this time, and as for the terraced fields, the soil is frozen, making it very difficult to work on.

But his son's wedding couldn't be delayed. Zhou Yuren chain-smoked his pipe, pondering: What to do? Without a major campaign, should he just abruptly go to Xichili Village to find Old Ma? The problem was, Zhou Yuren didn't know where Old Ma lived, which put him in a difficult position.

Zhou Yuren was smoking when he suddenly saw Accountant Yao from Jurenzhangzi Village walking over: "Old Zhou, what are you busy with?"

Zhou Yuren smiled shyly: "What am I busy with? I'm just sitting here idly."

"Didn't you go up the mountain to gather some firewood or something?"

"I wouldn't dare. The mountain belongs to the village collective. What kind of business would it be for me to go up the mountain to gather firewood?"

Accountant Yao laughed and said, "Then where did all those stacks of firewood in front of and behind your house come from?"

"Hehehe, it was blown in by the wind. Look how lucky I am, God gave me this opportunity. There's nothing I can do about it."

Accountant Yao laughed, "You old Zhou. I can't say anything else. You're still trying to fool me. By the way, the big battle is tomorrow."

Upon hearing about the major battle, Zhou Yuren immediately perked up: "Where to?"

"Let's go to Erbuchi to repair the road. I heard they're going to pave it with asphalt. Everyone, let's do some preliminary work first. Second Brother, are you alright?" Accountant Yao asked.

In previous years, many people would feign illness to avoid going, and Zhou Yuren also skipped a few times. It wasn't mandatory; going meant receiving work points in lieu of grain rations, and you couldn't really complain if you didn't go. But since the higher-ups had instructed the village to send people, naturally the more people who went, the more face the village would have.

Zhou Yuren thought for a moment: Erbuchi doesn't seem to be too far from Xichilichi, maybe Lao Ma can go there.

Now, for Zhou Yuren, his son Zhou Tianfu is already eighteen or nineteen years old and no one has proposed marriage yet. Zhao Da'e finally said something like this, so even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance or hope, he has to give it a try, right?

For a father, what is the happiest moment of his life? It's naturally the day his son gets married.

Once the son has a wife, he has a home. He becomes a family, and as they move in, their lives will gradually become more lively.

What is the point of living this life?

Having someone to talk to, to chat about the hardships and sorrows of life, makes life worthwhile. Therefore, the most urgent task is to find a wife for my son.

No matter how difficult it is, I still have to get married.

"I'll definitely go. I'm perfectly healthy. I have no ailments whatsoever. Even a young man like me can't beat you."

“Good, I’ll go ask around at other people’s houses first. Second brother, you go ahead and do your thing. We’ll go tomorrow morning by tractor. We’ll meet at the village office at 6:30 in the morning.”

"Okay, you go ahead with your work."