Moving House

Tommy's family finally said goodbye to their cozy but ultimately temporary wooden house in the outer city and moved into a brand-new two-story stone and wood structure house in the northeast corner of Xinxing Tunbao residential area.

This house was much more spacious and sturdier than their old house in Jialan Village and the wooden house Fran City.

On moving day, Sarah, the younger sister, was the most excited.

As soon as she pushed open the wooden door to her new home, she rushed inside like a little bird, her eyes eagerly searching for something.

When she saw the sturdy, smooth wooden staircase leading to the second floor, she immediately cheered, "There really is a staircase! It's even better than where we lived before!"

After living in a log cabin in the outer city, she developed a special fondness for "houses with stairs," which she considered a hallmark of a "good house."

She ran up and down the hills eagerly, feeling the solid ground beneath her feet, her little face beaming with pure joy.

Anna and Tommy smiled at Sarah's happy expression and began to move their meager belongings into their new home.

Although the room still smelled faintly of new wood and lime, making it seem somewhat empty and deserted, the three of them felt an unprecedented sense of security and belonging.

Because this time, this house truly belongs to them.

Anna gently stroked the smooth, sturdy stone wall, her eyes somewhat dazed, and murmured, "Tommy... this... this is our new home from now on? Really... we're just going to live here like this?"

Tommy placed the last package in the corner of the living room, walked to his mother's side, and answered confidently, "Yes, Mother! You heard the Lord's decree, didn't you? This house is allocated to our family. We only need to pay ten copper coins in rent each month, and once we've paid thirty Silver coin, the land deed will officially belong to us!"

He paused, then pulled out the Moneybag from his pocket—the one containing the proceeds from selling the old house. Although it was quite empty, a relaxed smile graced his face. "I just went to the management office of Tunbao and paid the full amount of thirty Silver coin in one go with the money from selling the old house in Jialan Village!"

"From today onwards, this house is completely ours! Although our two-story house is a bit pricey, costing thirty Silver coin, the one-story house over there is only ten Silver coin."

When Anna heard that her son had paid the full amount, she was first taken aback, then tears of relief and contentment welled up in her eyes. "It's better that it's more expensive, it's worth it. You and Sarah... will eventually get married."

Anna then began to examine every corner of her new home carefully, just like a true mistress of the house.

The first floor has a spacious living room/dining room and a smaller room, while the second floor has two bedrooms of similar size and better lighting.

Sarah had already excitedly claimed one of the rooms on the second floor and began clumsily but enthusiastically carrying her meager "treasures" into the room: a few smooth stones, a beautiful feather, and a small rag doll made from an old piece of clothing.

This was the first time in her life that she had a completely private space of her own, and the novelty and excitement she felt were indescribable.

Anna chose another room next to Sarah's, which would be more convenient for taking care of her daughter.

Tommy naturally lived in the room on the first floor, which was convenient for him to come and go, and also served as a guard for the house.

After settling in with their simple luggage, the mother and her two children cooked a simple yet exceptionally delicious dinner together on the stove in their new home for the first time.

Sitting around the brand-new wooden table, eating hot food, seeing the long-lost, heartfelt smile on his mother's face, and listening to his younger sister chattering about how to decorate her "new boudoir," Tommy's heart was filled with warmth.

After a simple dinner, the afterglow of the setting sun had not yet completely faded, casting a warm golden hue over the new home.

Tommy looked around. Although there were sturdy walls and a roof to shelter him from the wind and rain, the house did feel empty and desolate.

Apart from the fireplace and rough wooden window frames that were built in unison when the houses were constructed, the window locations were just empty holes; you had to install the window panels yourself and buy expensive glass. There were also a few basic wooden plank beds and an old table, and almost nothing else.

To truly transform this "house" into a warm and welcoming "home," we still need to add quite a few things.

"Mom, Sarah," Tommy stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes, "It's still early, shall we go for a walk and buy some things? The house is big now, it should be decorated properly."

Sarah immediately perked up. "Great! Brother, I want to buy a pretty piece of fabric to make curtains!" She was filled with boundless anticipation for her new home.

Anna looked at her two children and nodded with a smile, "It's time to buy some things. This will be our home for a long time from now on, and we can't keep making do like this."

So the mother and her two children locked the door of their new home and walked out of the Tunbao in the setting sun.

However, they soon discovered that because Tunbao was newly built, the residents had not yet moved in on a large scale, and the supporting commercial facilities were almost non-existent. Only a small branch of the government-run shops supplied the most basic food rations and salt and iron.

If you want to buy other daily necessities, you still have to go back to the large, crowded Shantytown Area at the foot of the mountain.

Although it was called the "Shantytown Area," under the strong management of the steward Edgar, it was no longer the chaotic and disorderly place it once was.

Edgar implemented strict sanitation and planning regulations, built centralized latrines and garbage dumps, and strictly prohibited dumping waste indiscriminately, with violators subject to fines.

Simple streets with straight lines were cleared and planned, and the unauthorized expansion of shacks encroaching on roads was prohibited; patrol teams were also set up to maintain basic order.

In order to accumulate enough contributions as soon as possible to move into that enviable, sturdy, and warm Tunbao on the mountain, the refugees were all trying their best to abide by these rules. Although the whole area was simple, it presented a busy and hopeful vitality.

As soon as Tommy's family reached the main entrance to the Shantytown Area, they were immediately surrounded by more than a dozen sharp-eyed street vendors.

These shrewd merchants could tell at a glance that Tommy and his companions came from the Tunbao) on the plains. They were relatively well-dressed, had ruddy complexions, and, more importantly, carried a sense of security that suggested they had a home to return to—a sign of wealthy customers in their eyes.

"Young master! Take a look at the newly woven bamboo baskets! They're sturdy and durable!"

"Madam, Miss! I have some pretty hair ties and needles and thread!"

"Just arrived earthenware bowls and jars, selling them cheap!"

The vendors vied for customers, their voices noisy yet full of energy.

Tommy protected his mother and sister without showing any impatience; he knew they were pitiful people struggling to survive.

He carefully selected the things he needed for the house, bought two medium-sized sturdy wicker baskets to store grains and sundries, picked out several thick, coarse earthenware bowls and an earthenware jar, and also chose a sharpened kitchen knife to replace the old knife that had long been dull.

Sarah stared longingly at a stall selling women's items, including colorful hair ties and a small, palm-sized, slightly damaged but brightly polished bronze mirror.

Tommy smiled and bought his sister a red hair tie and a small bronze mirror. Sarah immediately held them in her hands like treasures, her little face flushed with excitement.

Next, they arrived at the government-run shops.

Now that they have moved out of the collective resettlement site, they can no longer receive free food rations.

Tommy bought fifty kilograms of rye, which will be his staple food for the foreseeable future.

They also weighed out a small bag of salt, a small bottle of sesame oil, and several feet of thick coarse cloth, intending to have their mother make two sets of winter clothes for the family.

The prices at the official shops were fair, and the scales were accurate, which gave people peace of mind.

By the time the shopping was finished, it was already getting dark.

On the way back to Tunbao, Tommy saw a vendor selling baked flatbreads by the roadside. The aroma was irresistible, so he bought a hot flatbread for each of his mother and sister.

Anna scolded him for wasting money, but a smile appeared in her eyes as she took the cake.

Back in my new home, although the things I bought were still simple, the house seemed to instantly have a more homely and lively atmosphere.

Sarah couldn't wait to place the small bronze mirror on her windowsill and admired herself over and over again.

Anna began planning to make clothes for the children using the new fabric. Tommy watched all this, feeling tired but also filled with a sense of peace and anticipation for the future.

All these small but real moments of happiness were things they never dared to imagine back in Jialan Village, but now they are creating them little by little with their own hands.

And all of this started with the Lord who saved them from despair, Lord Karl.

All this stability and hope was brought about by Lord Karl.

It was the Lord who gave him a resettlement allowance, the Lord who gave him a new job and a future, and the Lord's Tunbao plan that allowed them to have such a dream house.

The Lord not only gave him a way to survive, but also a home and a future full of hope.

Tommy silently clenched his fist, his belief becoming even stronger and purer.

Tommy had no choice but to repay Lord Karl's kindness with his own life, with all his loyalty and effort.

This kindness and generosity are heavier than Mount Tai.