Co-payments

Indeed, after dinner, while it was still light outside, Lao Zhou gathered the whole family together for a meeting to formally announce the decision to build a house and inform everyone that this time they would be constructing seven rooms.

Their current house has six rooms, with three large rooms in the middle. One room is the main hall, the sunny main room where Lao Zhou and his family reside, while the other side is occupied by Zhou Dalang's family.

The east and west wings each have only two complete rooms. The west wing has two complete rooms, while the east wing has only one room because the kitchen is built on the east side, extending from the house.

Lao Zhou was reluctant to use bricks and stones to build the kitchen, so he covered it with a mixture of mud and thatch.

This time, they planned to expand sideways by simply knocking down the wall adjacent to the courtyard.

Lao Zhou originally intended to open a small door there. However, he realized that if they opened a small door on one side, they would need to construct another large door on the other side for convenience, which would incur significant costs. After discussing with the Qian family, he decided to knock down the east courtyard wall and merge it into one courtyard.

On this side, there are the kitchen and woodshed, while there is ample space on the other side for the construction of seven rooms. Three rooms will be placed in the middle without a main hall. The east and west wings will each have two rooms, all designed to be in harmony.

Lao Zhou's plan was particularly well-thought-out. "The space is large enough to build the house a bit wider so that it will be useful and convenient when the children get married in the future."

Zhou Dalang and the others were excited to hear this news but still had some concerns. "Father, do we have enough money?"

Lao Zhou was straightforward. "Not enough."

Everyone: ... If it's not enough, what are they discussing here?

"So each of your families will have to contribute some money," Lao Zhou was not polite, saying, "Your youngest sister is only six years old, and she gave me five hundred wen to build the house the other day."

Lao Zhou didn't say anything more, but everyone immediately felt a heavy burden on their shoulders.

Zhou Dalang looked around and asked, "Father, how much more do we need?"

Lao Zhou took a puff of smoke and said, "Once the house is built, we'll need to make beds and prepare bedding."

The brothers felt even more pressure. Zhou Dalang calculated the private funds of their family and finally gritted his teeth, "Father, I'll contribute two taels of silver."

With Zhou Dalang setting an example, Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang naturally had to follow suit. Zhou Erlang seemed fine, but Zhou Sanlang's expression appeared somewhat bitter. He was the brother who earned the least, and their private funds only totaled just over two taels. This was due to taking turns with the eldest brother to sell food to the laborers.

After deducting sixty percent for public use, they split the remaining amount, allowing him to save seventy to eighty wen a day.

Zhou Sanlang found it difficult, but both Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang confidently stated that they would also contribute two taels of silver.

Then everyone looked at the silent Zhou Sirlang.

Zhou Sirlang wanted to cry. He stared back with wide eyes, wanting to contribute, but he didn't have anything to give!

Lao Zhou cleared his throat and said, "We don't need to rush for Lao Si's contribution." He can make it up after he pays off the family's debts.

In fact, what everyone wanted to express was that it didn't matter if Lao Si didn't contribute, but since Lao Zhou had said so, they had to go along with it.

Zhou Xi said, "Father, I'll also contribute two taels."

Lao Zhou frowned and said, "Your brothers are here; you don't need to contribute." When Lao Si gets married, you can lend him some money for the wedding, and he can pay you back when he earns in the future.

Zhou Sirlang: ... Great, now I have more debt.

But Zhou Xi said, "I also live at home, and I've contributed everything I have." It's not fair for me to not contribute.

Lao Zhou blurted out, "You're not getting married?"

Zhou Xi said, "I'm not getting married."

Lao Zhou was angry and knocked over the pipe. Qian Shi, who is usually silent, spoke up, "Alright, you can keep the money your daughter gave you."

Qian Shi said to Zhou Xi, "Bring the money to me later."

Zhou Xi responded with an "Okay."

Lao Zhou was somewhat angry. When he returned to the room, he asked Qian Shi, "Are you really planning to keep the child at home for the rest of her life?"

It had been almost a year, and Zhou Xi had not yet gotten married. Lao Zhou didn't think that his daughter couldn't find a match; he believed that his wife hadn't made enough effort to find one for her.

Qian Shi said, "Let her come to terms with it before getting married." Have you not noticed that she has not only gained weight in the past year but also improved her complexion? I asked the doctor, and he said she is almost recovered. "I don't like any of the families the matchmakers have suggested."

Lao Zhou's eyes lit up as he asked, "Can she have children?"

Qian Shi responded with an "Mm."

Lao Zhou was happy and finally relaxed. "Alright, take your time finding a good match this time." A widower is fine, but he cannot bring children into the house. Being a stepmother is not easy.

Once he heard that his daughter's illness had been cured, Lao Zhou's demeanor became more demanding. "And we need to take good care of the elderly at home; we can't have another situation like the one with the Liu family."

Qian Shi rolled her eyes at him and said, "Mingbao is listening."

Lao Zhou pulled himself together and turned to face Mingbao's bright eyes. He patted her head and said, "Go to bed; you have to go to school tomorrow."

It looks like they really need to build a house; it's not even convenient to have a conversation.

Finding a match for Zhou Xi is even more challenging than for Zhou Sirlang. Lao Zhou was prepared for a long battle, so he didn't refuse her dowry. She would definitely be staying at home for a long time.

After collecting the dowries from their sons and daughters, Lao Zhou counted them and was pleased. With this, they would have enough money to build the house.

At the same time, Zhou Dalang was talking to Xiao Qian Shi, "I wonder how much money our parents have saved, and if it's enough to build seven rooms."

Xiao Qian Shi was also worried and whispered, "When we built these six rooms back then, it cost forty-two taels, and now we need new beds and bedding, it's probably going to cost at least fifty taels."

Zhou Dalang nodded, "Yes, and I wonder how much of Lao Si's debt has been paid off. By the way, does Lao Si still owe us money?"

It was only then that Xiao Qian Shi remembered that Lao Si still owed them money.

The couple looked at each other, and Zhou Dalang said, "Lao Si's money is not in his hands, and we don't know how much has been paid off." Tomorrow, when you have time, ask Mingbao. "I asked her, but she refused to say."

Xiao Qian Shi nodded.

Mingbao and Xiao Qian Shi had always been close; their relationship was similar to that of siblings. After preparing meals for the students, Xiao Qian Shi sought out Mingbao and took her aside to ask.

As soon as she asked, Mingbao told her everything, completely forgetting that she had refused her older brother's request. In Mingbao's mind, her sister-in-law was just like herself, sharing secrets with her, and of course, she wouldn't tell anyone else.

"I've already paid back nine thousand seven hundred and ninety-five wen." Last year, Lao Si earned 2,300 wen from work and business, so he still owes less than three taels.

Xiao Qian Shi blinked, realizing that even their debt had been repaid. With this in mind, she realized that her mother-in-law's money might not be sufficient, and she might need to deduct the money Lao Si owed them first. But in that case, her mother-in-law would have at least thirty taels.

Adding the fourteen taels they had been given, they could still earn some more in the meantime…

After calculating, Xiao Qian Shi became happy and said, "In that case, we almost have enough money to build the house."

If it's truly inadequate, we can delay buying new beds for now.