The horse-drawn cart stopped at Old Ma's Place first. Li Long led it into the yard, pointed to one of the rooms, and said:
"Second Older Brother, Brother-in-law, Junshan, Junfeng, you'll be staying in here."
"We're squeezing in together?" Li Anguo was a little surprised. He turned to ask Li Jianguo, "We're not staying at your house?"
"There isn't room at home. In weather this cold, we can't have you sleeping on the floor, can we?" Before Li Jianguo could speak, Li Long said, "There's a stove in here and a wooden board bed. You brought bedding, too. If it's not soft enough, put another layer of wheat straw underneath."
"Then meals..." Chen Xingbang had just enjoyed a good meal, and now he was a little worried. If they weren't eating at the Li family's house, and the Li family ate well while they ate poorly... how would that do?
"I'll be eating here with you. Don't worry, Brother-in-law, the food here is good. There's meat at every meal." Li Long smiled. "Uncle Lao Luo does the cooking, though everyone helps when they have time.
"There'll be work in a couple of days. If you want to work, you can earn money, and you'll be paid that same day. It doesn't matter if you don't know how at first. It's so simple you can learn just by watching.
"Some folks from our hometown came over from the County Seat a couple of days ago. Their family earned over two hundred in ten days or so. That's quite a bit!"
"That much money?" All four men's eyes widened. "Really?"
"See those reeds outside? It's just cutting reeds and tying reed bundles. The work's tiring, but the money's real."
"If we can really earn that much, it's worth working ourselves half to