Chapter 24: Renovating the House

Lin Yu completely agreed with this sentiment. The Yang family were insatiable gluttons; once something fell into their hands, getting them to cough it up was harder than ascending to heaven. Just ask yourself, what kind of decent people would force someone to leave behind their very clothes during a divorce? Yet, that was exactly what they were capable of. If those items had been taken to their house, not a single one would ever have been recovered.

Lin Yu was busy focusing on tidying up his old fishing gear, the salty, humid breath of the sea brushing gently past him. Just then, a cacophony of voices reached his ears. He looked up to see the village head leading a grand procession of people walking toward his home. A rough count suggested there were over a dozen individuals, their figures appearing exceptionally warm and kind under the sunlight. Following the crowd was a donkey cart, fully loaded with hay and straw.

The village head walked in the lead with a simple, honest smile. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he called out, "Yufen, Little Yu, I’ve brought the people you need. Are you all ready?"

Lin Yu stepped forward to greet them. "Grandpa Village Head, there isn't much to prepare. There’s hardly anything in the house to move. Please, just tell us what to do—I’m just a kid and don't know much. I’m truly sorry to trouble all you uncles and grandfathers, but we’ll be providing lunch for everyone."

"Little Yu, you're providing lunch?" someone immediately questioned. Everyone had seen how the three of them had been living since they returned; they were barely scraping by. Providing lunch? What could they possibly serve? If it was just a bowl of kelp soup, they’d be better off eating at home. Everyone had come to help only out of respect for the village head; no one was expecting a meal.

Lin Yu nodded confidently. "Yes, we’re providing lunch. My mother has already kneaded the dough, and we’ll be steaming white flour buns. The sides will be simple, though—no meat."

Upon hearing "white flour buns," the crowd’s eyes lit up immediately. Who didn't want white flour buns? In a poor household, when could one ever afford white flour? Realizing the dough was already rising, the villagers broke into hearty laughter. "Oh, white flour buns! That’s great! Since there are buns, we’d better put in some real effort and get this work done perfectly!"

"Who said Little Yu’s family couldn't afford to eat? They’ve even got white flour buns!"

Luo Quan, the village head, was a man of action. He waved his hand and shouted, "Alright, time is short, so enough chatting—let's get to work! A few of you, go unload the hay and straw from the cart; be gentle and don't waste the materials."

Several strong young men stepped forward. Some grabbed bundles of hay, while others hoisted the straw. With a rhythmic chant, they worked in unison to transport the materials to the open ground in the courtyard, stacking them neatly.

Luo Quan then directed, "Old Zhang, Old Li, you lot grab your tools and head to the yellow mud bank on the east slope. Dig up some mud; our adobe bricks depend on it." The named villagers didn't hesitate; they shouldered their shovels and headed east.

As he directed, Luo Quan explained the nuances of adobe production to Lin Yu: "This method of using yellow mud mixed with straw is a technique passed down from our ancestors. You have to pick mud with good stickiness. Once mixed with straw, the bricks won't crack easily when they dry. We can also add bits of hemp, hair, or pig bristles. It’s like giving the adobe a skeleton, making it sturdier and able to withstand wind and rain. Once the materials are mixed evenly, you just apply it directly to the cracks in the walls."

This opened Lin Yu's eyes—he hadn't realized there was so much craft involved in adobe houses.

Meanwhile, Luo Quan turned to the carpenters. "Carpenter Wang, Carpenter Zhao, I’ll have to trouble you to prepare the wood for the doors, windows, and roof. Make sure you measure the dimensions accurately so they fit properly. For the roof planks, choose ones with straight grains—they’re waterproof and durable."

"Don't you worry, Village Head, leave it to us," the two carpenters nodded with a smile. They skillfully opened their toolboxes, taking out saws, axes, and planes, and began selecting timber. As they measured, cut, and polished, wood shavings danced in the sunlight, and the air filled with the fresh, clean scent of timber.

Under Luo Quan’s command, everyone in the courtyard performed their duties efficiently. The renovation project was in full swing, and Lin Yu watched with joy. It seemed that giving the village head half the wood was entirely worth it. After all, he knew nothing about repairing houses and lacked the influence to command such a workforce.

Seeing everyone busy, Lin Yu rolled up his sleeves to help. He watched as several uncles pushed an old stone mill, feeding the straw into it. With each rotation, the straw snapped with a crisp sound, gradually grinding into fine filaments. Lin Yu helped pass the straw, his gaze focused and determined.

By the time the straw was ready, the villagers who had gone to dig for yellow mud returned, carrying full buckets. The mud swayed with their steps, emitting the rich, earthy scent of the soil. Luo Quan directed everyone to dump the mud into a wide pit, adding water, and the young men began stirring it vigorously with shovels to mix the mud and straw thoroughly.

The village head even produced a batch of pig bristles from somewhere and dumped them in as well. Lin Yu joined in, his arms swinging with effort as he worked the shovel. Beads of sweat soon formed on his forehead. He grew tired before long, but he didn't stop, knowing it would help him build strength.

"Little Yu, this heavy labor is too much for you. Why don't you focus on patching the wall cracks instead?" the village head suggested while smoking.

Lin Yu nodded. Professional tasks should be left to the professionals; he would stick to the work that didn't require as much expertise.

Lin Yu carried a bucket of mixed mud to the cracked sections of the wall, with Luo Quan following behind. "Don't think this is simple; there’s a science to it. You must use a small trowel to carefully clear out the debris and dust from the cracks, then take a handful of mud and apply it evenly. That’s the only way to prevent it from cracking again."

"Normally, you'd make adobe bricks and let them dry for days before building, but since we're just repairing, we apply it directly. Just be careful—don't apply it too thin, and leave some extra mud. As it dries, the wall might still develop tiny fissures, so you’ll need to apply it a few times to ensure it's airtight. That’s the only way to keep the winter wind out."

Lin Yu nodded earnestly. He followed the village head’s instructions, carefully patching every crack. Repairing the house was a major concern, and he couldn't afford to be sloppy. Besides, this was a trade skill; once learned, he could patch the walls himself if they cracked again.

By noon, the aroma of steamed buns filled the courtyard. Everyone was restless, glancing toward the house while they worked. Seeing it was time, Lin Yu called out, "Thank you all for your hard work, let’s take a break. Lunch is ready."

As soon as he spoke, everyone dropped their tools and rushed toward the door to peek into the steamer. "Oh, it really is the smell of white flour buns! I haven't eaten these in over a year—it smells amazing."

"You said it! These buns with a bit of kelp and cabbage soup—it’s perfect."

Luo Quan sat down beside Lin Yu, puffing on his pipe. "Little Yu, you’re a talented kid. You’ve caught quite a bit of seafood these past few days. But the shoreline is limited, and those first two catches were just good luck. To sustain your family, you need a boat!"

Lin Yu was stunned. He knew the importance of a boat to a fisherman; only with a boat could he go out to sea for larger catches. His father had left behind a dilapidated boat, but it had already sunk into the ocean. Buying a boat required a fortune—even a simple, non-motorized wooden fishing boat cost over a thousand yuan. It was a massive sum.

Lin Yu sighed helplessly. "Grandpa Village Head, I know that, but boats are too expensive. When could I ever afford one? This isn't something I can rush; I'll have to take it slowly."

Luo Quan smiled and patted Lin Yu on the shoulder. "New ones are expensive, of course, but you could buy a used one! If you buy an old boat and repair it, you can usually get it seaworthy for three or four hundred yuan. You’re a smart kid; three or four hundred is within reach."

Lin Yu chuckled. "It’s not that easy. Besides, no one in the village would easily sell their boat—it’s their livelihood. Without a boat, they have no hope."

Luo Quan gave Lin Yu a firm pat on the back. "If others won't sell, what about mine? My son broke his leg and can't go to sea anymore, and these old bones of mine haven't been out in years. If I keep it, it’ll just rot in the water. If you’re interested, I’ll sell it to you cheap."