That day, Zhou Guomin returned home in the city.

  Zhou Guoqiang called over his older brother Zhou Guofu, and the three brothers had a good drink together at noon. After lunch, the bricklayers all went to work, leaving only the three brothers still drinking and chatting.

  Zhou Guoqiang drank about half a catty of wine and felt slightly drunk: "Guomin, don't you have to go to work every day? How come you're back today?"

  Zhou Guomin ate more elegantly than his brother, he didn't explain and just smiled.

  Zhou Guofu sensitively perceived that Zhou Guomin seemed to have something to say to Zhou Guoqiang, so he made an excuse to go to the toilet.

  When only Zhou Guomin and Zhou Guoqiang were left in the house, Zhou Guomin took out 300 yuan from his pocket and said to Zhou Guoqiang: "Second brother, I came back today to give you 300 yuan. You must be using money everywhere for building a house, take this money, if it's not enough, just tell me."

  Zhou Guoqiang was startled and hastily declined: "National treasure, Second Brother cannot accept this money. I have money here, you quickly take the money back."

  Zhou Guomin forcibly stuffed the money into Zhou Guoqiang's hand: "Second brother, don't worry, my wife and I have discussed this, consider it a loan from us. When you're more comfortable financially in the future, you can return it to us then. We're family, no need to be polite about it. Building a house is a big deal for a lifetime, your household has so many kids and the economy has always been tight, we've all been looking forward to you building the house as soon as possible. I reckon you've already prepared all the materials, just worried that you might not have enough money to pay the workers, coincidentally the post office gave out bonuses this month, so my wife and I discussed it and decided to take this money back for you to use."

  Zhou Guoqiang's nose was a bit sour, he no longer refused to put the money in his pocket: "Fellow citizen, thank you. To be honest, my wife and I calculated it and we were still short of some money, originally thinking that we would owe part of our wages first and then slowly pay them back when we had money. Now that you've said so much, I won't insist on saving face either. Your second brother-in-law has taken the lead, next year I will definitely return the money to you..."

  Zhou Guomin waved his hand, indicating that he shouldn't continue: "Why talk about two families when we're one family? Come on, let's keep drinking."

  After lunch, Zhou Guomin said that the post office still had things to do and left. Zhou Guoqiang quietly told Zhao Yujuan about the 300 yuan he sent to his brother.

  Zhao Yuzhen was both surprised and delighted: "Dad, this money has come at just the right time."

  Zhou Guoqiang smiled and said, "Yes, we were worried about how to make up for the shortage of wages. With these 300 added to the money at home, it's almost enough. This money is really timely. It's still good to have a biological brother!"

  Zhao Yuzhen felt a bit uneasy after hearing this, thinking of the previous argument with Zhou Guoqiang over the wedding gift money for Zhao Gang. Hearing this again, how could she not be worried?

  However, she has her own way of dealing with it: "His dad, Lao San's family will be 6 years old next year, we'll buy something for the kid and return the favor. In the future, when Lao Da and Lao San's families have kids or Auntie's family has events, we'll all give 20 yuan as a gift, after all, things are much better now than they were two years ago."

  A few words made Zhou Guoqiang feel relieved, and he went out with Zhao Yuzhen to help with things in high spirits.

  Watching the house being built higher and higher, it will be capped soon.

  The wood was asked to be planed by Zhou Guofu, and after the bark was removed with a plane, it became smooth enough to use. On an auspicious day, the beam was officially installed, and this house was basically half completed.

  On the day of the beam-hanging ceremony, Old Three and his family returned from the city. Little Treasure, who hadn't been home for a long time, was overjoyed to see the new house and ran around wildly.

  Zhou Fang's family brought a long whip when they came, and also bought a large piece of bedding and a quilt. This is the rural custom when hanging beams, girls who get married have to buy some things back. Of course, you don't need to really hang them on the beam, but you do need to buy good bedding, sheets, quilts, blankets and so on.

  Lao Da's family was also indispensable, plus Zhao Yu Zhen's two sisters and brother, as well as the tile workers, they set up two tables that day.

  After hanging the beam, the roof was quickly raised.

  Zhou Guoqiang and Zhao Yuzhen were discussing at home how to deal with the indoor floor. If it was just muddy ground, it wouldn't match the house, but paving a cement floor would add another expense. After discussing back and forth, they still decided to spend the money. Not to mention other things, in the future when it rains, staying at home won't be worrisome anymore, walking on the dry cement floor is so comfortable. Now saving this money, later will also have to pave it anyway.

  The tile house has three rooms facing south, and at the corner to the east, there is an additional kitchen, a storage room, and a bedroom, making a total of six rooms.

  The central room was the main hall, equivalent to a later living room. The east wing was the bedroom of Zhou Guoqiang and his wife, while the west wing was left for the two brothers, Dabao and Xiaobao.

  Zhou Xiaoyun is growing up now and can't live with her brothers in the same room anymore, so she lives alone in a new small attic.

  This room is adjacent to the kitchen with a small anteroom in between for storing miscellaneous items, and inside there is a not-too-large bedroom, but Zhou Xiaoyun was already very satisfied.

  Finally have their own private room, and then do something more convenient.

  Everything was ready and tidy, it was already the second spring. There wasn't much to decorate in the house, just whitewash on the walls and cement on the floor. No new furniture was bought, the old furniture from home was moved in and they could live there.

  But living in a tile-roofed house that belongs to them, not to mention Zhou Guoqiang and Zhao Yuzhen, even Dabao and Xiaobao are all smiling. Not to mention Zhou Xiaoyun who has her own room.