Old Lady Liu got up upon hearing this and explained to Lin Lishan, "This girl Liu is very nimble and usually takes care of the two of us. She has a steady personality and there’s not much work. She lives in the large courtyard in front. Please sit for a while and wait for a moment." Mr. Liu watched his wife leave and refilled the tea for everyone, "This girl Liu and her mother are honest, don’t talk much, and are considered part of our clan. Normally, it’s her looking after us old couple, cooking meals, washing clothes, and tidying up the yard. She works quickly, and over time has learned how to maintain furniture. She doesn’t ask for money, usually we just give them some rations. There are too many kids in her family, and just relying on the two men in the family working can’t even cover basic needs. Once they’re done with their work, giving them 2-3 pounds of food coupons is enough." Lin Lishan nodded after listening and asked him, "Old mister, do you usually buy your firewood from the market or does someone deliver it?" Mr. Liu laughed and said, "You can ask Liu when she comes over later. She’s more familiar with it than I am, you can ask her about all the details of daily life. All the supplies from my household’s ration book are collected by her. For example, she even knows how to use the earth stove in the living room. It just so happens she can show you around." Zhao Dashan saw Zhou Xiaozheng examining the tables and chairs in the living room and curiously asked, "Brother Zheng, have you figured out anything special?" Zhou Xiaozheng looked at Mr. Liu and, seeing that he wasn’t stopping him, said, "Can’t tell in detail, just know these are from the Ming Dynasty, all made of rosewood, very rare, and well-maintained. Old Mister, was your ancestry from the South?" Mr. Liu stroked the armrest, reminiscing, "Yes, our ancestors were from the South. It wasn’t until my grandfather’s generation that we started to spend time in Beijing. Slowly, all our clansmen moved within the pass, and generations later we ended up in the Northeast. The younger generations have forgotten that their ancestral home is in the picturesque and charming Water Country Jiangnan. We have gotten old and have all relocated here, probably even our ancestors can’t find their resting place. My wife is also from Suzhou and gradually moved north when she was in Beijing. Now, only a few people are left in the ancestral land." He laughed to himself after speaking, "Your ancestors weren’t really from the Northeast either. Many migrated outside the pass. Especially your Zhou Family Village’s old clan leader, he often claimed to be from Beijing. He said he wanted to go back for a visit, but he left before he could." Zhou Xiaozheng knew the old clan leader he mentioned was the same person who often sighed and patted his head when he was young. Thinking of the old man, he hesitated for a moment, "Old gentleman, were you and our clan leader old acquaintances? I still remember him; he was a good man, a good elder. Pity he didn’t leave any words behind when he left. Now it’s hard to know his preferences." "He often came to ask about news from Beijing, that’s how we got to know each other. He was indeed a good man. His hobby was listening to gossip. Haha, he loved hearing gossip from all over the place." Zhou Xiaozheng lowered his head thoughtfully for a moment, then raised his head to see the old man smiling, but still showing nostalgia in his weathered eyes. Worried the old man might be saddened, he abruptly changed the topic, "Old Sir, back then was it popular for a girl’s family to have canopy beds as part of the dowry?" Mr. Liu laughed and said, "Yes, just like how bicycles, sewing machines, and watches are popular now. Back then, as long as the family could afford it, they would make a bed for the daughter’s dowry. Wealthier families would go all out on materials and craftsmanship. Are you wondering why my wife’s dowry didn’t have a canopy bed? When we went back to the Northeast, adapted to sleeping on a heated brick bed, the bed wasn’t maintained and got ruined. Now my grandson is getting married; forget about canopy beds, just those few old boxes on the brick bed look good enough." Mr. Liu expressed with a sigh, "You all probably don’t know, young people nowadays just focus on simplicity and convenience. Marriage today is like child’s play. Back in our day, it was three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, everything couldn’t be missing, otherwise, you’d end up as a concubine. Who would want that?" His words made everyone burst into laughter. Zhou Xiaozheng showed a slight smile, this old man truly was interesting. If he loved to tinker, he couldn’t maintain things well. Lin Lishan curiously asked, "Old Sir, I see you’ve prepared the living room, but the room with the heated brick bed on the right side of the courtyard still has a long smoking pipe and tobacco leaves. That room isn’t meant for guests, is it?" "It’s indeed for guests. There’s no choice. Once you come here, you need the heated bed to entertain locals. Visitors will get on the brick bed; meals are also eaten on the bed. If you don’t let them on the bed, they feel you’re not treating them with respect. That long smoking pipe, sitting on the brick bed and chatting is also a custom. They don’t like the living room, so I cleared that room specifically for guests. Since you’re here, I invite you to sit here. If the locals come, they go to the front and chat on the brick bed. If you make them sit here, they don’t feel comfortable." Lin Lishan nodded in agreement, "That room is well-prepared. One must adapt to local customs." Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu nodded, "Just leave that room as it is. Some locals like to smoke dry tobacco and have family chats on the brick bed. Take them directly there so they won’t wander into the master bedroom. People here don’t have the habit of not entering the master bedroom, which is not good. When I arranged the room, I purposely set up a study outside to prevent people from wandering." Latest content publıshed on 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 Lin Lishan laughed and said to him, "Your master bedroom is just like our Jiao Jiao’s room. Xiao Wu specifically opened up the two rooms, made a small living room outside, and laid a small heated bed to avoid villagers entering his bedroom. This way, privacy is a bit better." Old Lady Liu entered the room with a woman and a little girl, smiling and saying, "It looks like you’re all chatting happily, did you mention something enjoyable? This is Little Ya and her mother, I’ve already talked to them on the way. They are very familiar with the area, if Shanshan has any questions, just ask her. This girl often helps me collect things from the ration book and is familiar with the house." Lin Lishan quickly stood up and thanked the old lady, "Auntie, you’re so kind. I was just worried about being unfamiliar with the area. We’ll go back and tidy up first, and come by to disturb you once we’re done." Mr. Liu led the old lady to see everyone off at the gate, watching as Lin Lishan packed up the back seat and Little Ya and her mother got on, the car drove off, and then he returned to the house. Zhou Xiaozheng was driving, seeing Little Ya and her mother looking a bit restrained, he comforted them, "Don’t be nervous. Little Ya, right? Tell uncle, where would be convenient to buy a wooden bed? And should we find someone to order firewood?" Little Ya looked ahead and replied, "Uncle, you can buy a wooden bed at the city’s woodworking factory. They have everything there. Once you pay, they’ll deliver it. For firewood, there are always people coming door-to-door asking if you want any. You can buy it when you see them. It’s all ready and you can tell them how often to deliver." "Great, thank you, Little Ya. You’ll go with your mother and guide your aunt around the yard to see how to tidy it up. Shanshan, I’ll stop the car at the door to unload things, then go buy the bed and coal briquettes. You and them handle the cleaning. If we can’t finish today, there’s always tomorrow. Don’t rush. Make sure Little Ya teaches you how to use the heated wall, and see if there’s anything else to note inside?" Lin Lishan patted Little Ya’s hand, "It’s okay, don’t be nervous. Brother Zheng, you can go handle your tasks, Old Zhao, do you need to return to the office after your shift?" "No need to go to the office. I’ll accompany Brother Zheng to check out the beds at the woodworking factory and find someone to help haul coal briquettes; this car can’t hold it. Brother Zheng, why don’t you take the car to the Women’s Federation, and I’ll let Hong Li accompany sister-in-law. With more women, tidying up will be faster." Zhou Xiaozheng looked at the time, it was indeed getting late, "Alright, then you lead the way. Let’s pick up your wife first. Also, no cooking tonight, let’s all go out to eat. Shanshan, you can take the curtain cloth to Hong Li’s place for her help." Following Zhao Dashan’s direction, the car quickly reached the Women’s Federation, which was also at the county Pub/lic Secu/rity Bu/reau. Currently, the Women’s Federation and Pub/lic Secu/rity Bu/reau were combined. Zhao Dashan didn’t let him get out, and went upstairs to call someone. After a while, he came down with Cheng Hongli.