"Comrade Chen, please take a look."
"It's like goddesses from heaven with their little fairy attendants descending to the mortal realm. I've been making clothes for so many years, and I've truly never seen anyone as beautiful as your wife."
In the tailor shop, Shen Xue was wearing a custom-made blue dress as per Chen Yang's request. Her graceful figure was accentuated perfectly by the tight-fitting dress.
Voluptuous yet dignified.
Alluring yet not vulgar.
The blue dress complemented Shen Xue's fair swan-like neck, adding another touch of charm. Chen Yang was momentarily mesmerized.
"Mommy, so pretty!"
"This is my mommy!"
The little milk-baby, also in new clothes, looked at her mother, who was like a fairy before her, and excitedly circled Shen Xue like a little airplane.
As she spun, she proudly emphasized to Liang Hongfang that this was her mommy, as if afraid others wouldn't know.
The little milk-baby was also wearing a smaller version of the dress. However, unlike Shen Xue's dignified beauty, the little milk-baby's slightly chubby cheeks were accentuated by the blue dress, making them appear fair and tender.
She was like a porcelain doll, exquisitely crafted, making Liang Hongfang want to hug her.
This mother and daughter were like goddesses who had stepped out of a New Year's painting.
"I know, I know."
"No one's snatching Mommy from you."
Patting the little milk-baby's cheek, Chen Yang gazed intently at his wife.
Even though he had imagined Shen Xue in this dress countless times, he was still struck by her beauty before him.
His wife was simply too beautiful!
"Silly boy, still staring."
Seeing Chen Yang constantly looking at her, Shen Xue felt a flush creep up her cheeks.
There were outsiders present, and he wasn't afraid of being laughed at.
"She's my wife, what's there to be afraid of?"
"I want to!"
Chen Yang pouted. What was he supposed to do when he had such a beautiful wife?
Shen Xue tried on the other outfits as well. Liang Hongfang's craftsmanship was excellent, and they all fit perfectly.
Especially the Dacron shirt made of polyester fabric. When Shen Xue wore it, she exuded an aura reminiscent of female officers from a later era, which Chen Yang found remarkable.
His wife was truly capable of being both adorable and commanding.
She was an absolute treasure!
The little milk-baby took after Shen Xue and was a natural clothes hanger.
Already fair-skinned and endearing, she looked even more like a porcelain doll in her new clothes, making people want to dote on her.
She had been eating wheat essence and drinking red date porridge daily, and the little milk-baby had visibly rounded out, appearing even more adorable than her previous thin and weak self.
Her fair little cheeks had a healthy flush, indicating a significant improvement in her vitality. This made Chen Yang very happy, finally able to supplement the little one's nutrition.
Chen Yang had butchered five jin of pork and bought two large watermelons. After picking up the new clothes from the tailor shop, he took the happy mother and daughter home in their donkey cart.
Today was the first day of breaking ground for the new house. His father-in-law and the others had likely already leveled the mud-brick courtyard and were digging the foundation.
Chen Yang had also mentioned the matter of collecting stones that morning, offering one cent per stone. This was a great opportunity for the men in the village to earn money.
There were plenty of large stones by the river. It would take some effort, but villagers valued their strength, and if it meant earning money, a little hardship was nothing.
The people of this era didn't ask for much. As long as they could eat their fill, they were incredibly happy.
By the time Chen Yang and Shen Xue returned home in the donkey cart, their old mud-brick house had already disappeared.
Shen Futang was leading a dozen or so relatives, who were digging the foundation with hoes.
Cui Jianguo was also digging, using a plumb line to level the trenches. The foundation had to be dug straight, as a straight foundation ensured a straight house, which was the most important thing.
By the collapsed fence of Chen Yang's old house, a small mountain of stones had already been piled up. These were stones brought by the villagers that morning.
"Dad, uncles, brothers, it's a hot day. I bought two big watermelons. We'll chill them in the well first. We'll have watermelon to cool off this afternoon."
Chen Yang, carrying two large watermelons weighing over ten jin, greeted the relatives who were working diligently and then had Shen Xue use ropes to weave two net bags and lower them into the well water to chill.
On a sweltering summer day, a bite of chilled watermelon was simply mouth-watering.
"Wife, take the meat to Mom. Pick more vegetables from the garden too. We have a few large carp left from the other day. We'll fry them in the lard we rendered a few days ago, and add some tofu."
"Our relatives are helping us with work; we can't let them go hungry."
Chen Yang handed the five jin of pork he bought to Shen Xue. He then took off his shirt, grabbed a shovel from home, and joined in digging the foundation under the scorching sun.
It was his house being built, and he, as the owner, definitely couldn't be idle. Otherwise, what would the relatives helping him think?
They were working themselves to the bone for him, and he was just sitting on the sidelines watching. That wouldn't do at all!
"Yangzi, we old folks can fetch water from the well when we're thirsty. Why are you wasting money buying watermelons?"
Seeing Chen Yang come back and immediately start working bare-chested, several of Shen Xue's uncles and elder relatives hurried to speak.
Normally, when other families built houses and they helped, they'd be lucky to get a cup of cool water with a bit of tea leaves.
They hadn't even worked for half a day yet, and Futang had already offered several cigarettes, making these old smokers ecstatic.
These were "Da Qianmen," not common tobacco!
Now that Chen Yang was back, he was talking about two big watermelons, and they were chilling in the well. When the work was done, taking a bite would make them feel like they were in heaven.
They were all rural men. When had they ever received such treatment while helping relatives? Chen Yang, their niece's husband, was truly generous!
"Uncle, on the way back, I met a fellow villager selling melons, and they weren't expensive. All the uncles and brothers are helping me build my house in this heat. Having some chilled watermelon to cool off is only right."
"Mom and Xueyatou are making food. After we finish this section, we'll have watermelon first to cool off, and then we'll eat.
"There's steamed rice in the steamer, plenty to eat!"
Chen Yang scooped up a shovel of earth and replied in agreement. Their help was a favor, and he had to show them respect. At the very least, he couldn't skimp on their food and drink.
Otherwise, if word got out that Chen Yang had made money but didn't treat his relatives properly, his father-in-law would have no face to show in the village.
"Big Brother, your sister-in-law's braised pork is delicious. Try some later."
Shen Futang, with his sharp eyes, saw the large piece of pork Chen Yang was carrying. He understood clearly that his son-in-law was bringing him honor.
In this area, whose family building a house would provide meals and be willing to buy five jin of pork belly, and chill two large watermelons to cool off the workers?
These brothers and nephews were eating well at his place, and they would surely praise Shen Futang for his generosity to anyone they met.
If nothing else, he had already gone through more than a pack of cigarettes this morning, and these were "Da Qianmen"!
At first, Shen Futang had felt a little pained. But when he thought about how these old brothers would inevitably praise his generosity to outsiders, the old man's heart was filled with immense satisfaction.