Chapter 286 Visiting Muba
After all the busy work, it’s the New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning of that day, Qu Shaoyang and Liu Dongshan, leading their family men, drove a sled to the mountain field.

There are more than 200 people in the mountain area now, of which only fifty or sixty are from Maoer Mountain or Tadian, and most of the others came from Guandong and have no home here.

Qu Shaoyang meant that since the New Year was approaching, we should not treat these wooden handles too badly and should send them some food and drinks.

To make the kids happy and celebrate the New Year joyfully is better than anything else.

Liu Dongshan had the same idea. Both he and his disciple were from humble backgrounds. Even though they were rich now, they could not forget their roots.

Therefore, Qu Shaoyang bought a lot of food and daily necessities, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, rice, flour, grain and oil, which filled up five or six sleds.

The mountain field is very close to Maoer Mountain, only about twenty miles away. When Qu Shaoyang and his team arrived, the woodcutters had already been working for most of the day.

Some were cutting wood with big bellies, some were wielding big axes to trim branches, some were driving oxen and horses to haul wood, and some were carrying wood back home.

The sound of the woodcutter shouting can be heard everywhere in the mountain area at any time.

“Hey, Master Dagui, Master Qu, why are you here?”

When Li Changliang, the second counter clerk, saw Qu Shaoyang and Liu Dongshan, he ran over to say hello.

The mountain field was registered under Liu Dongshan’s name, so Liu Dongshan was the boss.

Qu Shaoyang’s identity is different now. He is no longer the stupid tiger in the Mu Gang. Li Changliang is the most sensible one. How could he not know what to call him?
“Changliang, this is what’s going on. Isn’t today the Little New Year? The Big New Year is coming up in a few days.

Shaoyang discussed with me that we couldn’t let the woodhandlers spend the New Year with empty bowls, so he specially sent up some food so that the woodhandlers who stayed in the mountains could have a good New Year. “

Liu Dongshan was also very happy to see his old friend.

“Oh, then on behalf of my brothers, I would like to thank the cabinet and Mr. Qu.

Well, I just happen to have something to discuss with the cashier.

Dazhuzi and I would like to take two days off at the end of the year to go back and see our wives.” Li Changliang scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly.

After the rafting ended last summer, Li Changliang and Dalin returned to their hometown with their wages, and each of them asked to bring their wives back.

Li Changliang found a widow with two children. Before he went up the mountain, his wife had just become pregnant.

Having lived in the mountains for almost three months, Li Changliang really missed his home.

I just wanted to take advantage of the New Year to go home and stay for a few days to spend time with my wife.

Dazhuzi, needless to say, his son is over one year old, which is the time when he loves people. How can he not miss his wife and children after being away for so long?
“Oh, sure. Those of you who have families can all go home for the New Year. Just don’t delay our work in the mountains.”

Liu Dongshan laughed when he heard this. What else could it be? Which man wouldn’t miss his wife after spending a long time away from home?

It’s normal to go back and visit and spend the New Year with family.

“Oh, thank you so much, Dagui. I would like to thank Lord Qu and Dagui on behalf of my brothers.”

When Li Changliang heard this, he was overjoyed and quickly ran over to announce the good news to the workers at the other end.

“Hey, everyone, stop what you are doing and listen to me.”

“Master Qu and our boss know that everyone is tired from working in the mountains, so they specially sent us food and drinks so that we can spend the New Year in peace.

Today is the Little New Year, so let’s work in the morning, rest in the afternoon and make dumplings.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, those who live locally can go down the mountain and go home to visit their relatives.

Those who live outside the local area can chop down the New Year tree on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month and then have a rest.

After Li Changliang said this, the woodcutters on the hillside immediately cheered.

Qu Shaoyang and Liu Dongshan looked at the joyful wood masters in front of them, and couldn’t help but recall the situation when they were in the mountain field. The master and apprentice didn’t stay in the mountain for long, they only met with Li Changliang, Dazhuzi, Dalin, Lao Cui, Ermaozi and others and chatted for a while.

I wandered around the mountain area to see the progress of this year’s logging, and then headed back after I had walked around for a while.

Before leaving, Liu Dongshan told Li Changliang, Dazhuzi and others that it was okay to take leave and go home early to celebrate the New Year, but they must arrange the matters at the mountain farm properly and not allow any mistakes to occur.

Ermaozi and Lao Cui immediately stated that they had no home, no job and no ties, so they would stay in the mountain to celebrate the New Year. They would take care of the mountain farm and guaranteed that there would be no problem.

“Okay, then you two should take more care of it, and I’ll give you more when we calculate your wages later.

Ermaozi, you are not young anymore. Shaoyang is only one year older than you. His eldest son is over one year old, and his wife is pregnant with their second child.

You should also hurry up and save some money to go back to your hometown and find a wife. Don’t waste any more time.

And Lao Cui, the same goes for you. Save some money and marry a wife. If Lama Dianzi doesn’t work out, just cut it off.

All the money you earned over the years has been used to fill that hole. Don’t let the end come and you end up with nothing.

How many people who rely on others can live with us sincerely?” Liu Dongshan advised earnestly.

Lao Cui sighed when he heard this, “Boss, don’t you know my situation?

Those three children of hers are all mine. If I hadn’t helped them, that lame man and the three children would have starved to death.”

Lao Cui had a lover in Taipinggou, her name was Yu Caifeng, she was about thirty-four or thirty-five and pretty.

Yu Caifeng married a shoemaker when she was eighteen years old. No one knew if it was because the shoemaker was busy preparing leather and was fumigated with chemicals or what, but she was not good at sex and had no children after several years of marriage.

One year, the shoemaker went into the mountains and met a wolf. He hid in an abandoned cellar for a night.

As a result, my legs were frozen and from then on they became paralyzed and unable to move.

Life was difficult at home, and Yu Caifeng had no choice but to find a reliable helper, Lao Cui, through the introduction of others.

Over the years, Lao Cui treated Yu Caifeng sincerely, and the three children in the family were also born to him and Yu Caifeng.

It’s a pity that the child doesn’t recognize him and only recognizes that paralyzed guy as his father.

Especially as the children grew older, every time they saw Lao Cui, their noses were not noses and their faces were not face.

Lao Cui also felt uncomfortable, but those were his own children, what could he do?
“Alas, you.” What could Liu Dongshan say? He had tried to persuade Lao Cui, but he refused to listen, and there was nothing he could do.

“Ermaozi, remember this, if you want to find a wife who can support you, don’t look for someone who relies on others.

If you don’t have enough money, tell me and I’ll lend it to you. Start a family and live a good life.”

Liu Dongshan couldn’t persuade Lao Cui, so he went to persuade Ermaozi.

Ermaozi scratched his head embarrassedly, “Hey, I know.

Dagui, I will go back to my hometown after I finish my work in the mountains this season.”

Ermaozi was frightened when he was releasing the raft that year. Since then, he only worked in the mountains and never in the water.

Every spring, when traps were being hunted in the mountains, Ermaozi would carry his luggage and a big axe and go to an inn to hide out.

After winter comes, they go into the mountains to cut wood and carry wood, and they live like this year after year.

“Ermaozi, if you have nothing to do after the spring, I have a gold factory over there.

I’ll arrange some work for you when the time comes so you can save more money.” Qu Shaoyang also spoke up.

(End of this chapter)