Chapter 70: Going a Hundred Miles to Ask Zhang Gong

Cui Changjia didn’t know many of the former employees of the Cui family factory, but she knew the “Old Man Zhang” mentioned by Ergang.

Old man Zhang's full name is Zhang Fengming. He was the first master craftsman to work with Cui Wenquan. He didn't even use any tools to measure when making furniture. He would just start where he knew where to make grooves and screws. The products he made were tightly fitted and very stable.

The Cui family's factory was disbanded and Zhang Fengming returned to his hometown. The last time Cui Xiuyuan called him, his family answered the phone and said he would not come.

After that, Cui Xiuyuan didn't feel comfortable contacting him again. He didn't expect that he would actually call Dagang.

Dagang and Ergang don’t have cell phones, but Zhang Fengming was able to call Dagang’s home, which proves that he still has feelings for the Cui family.

After hearing what Ergang said, Cui Changjia had an idea in his mind. After Ergang finished the drip and took him back, Cui Changjia went to find Cui Xiuyuan.

Ergang needs to take anti-inflammatory injections for three days to treat the injury on his hand, and change the medicine every two days. He needs to rest for at least a week.

Cui Xiuyuan listened and just silently told Ergang to take good care of him. What else could he do since it had already happened? Besides, compared to the fire at Cui's house, this was nothing.

In addition to talking about Ergang's situation, Cui Changjia said, "Brother, I want to go to Mr. Zhang's house."

Cui Xiuyuan said, "Mr. Zhang is a man of his word. If he says he won't come, no matter who comes, he won't change his mind."

Cui Changjia pondered, "More than 200 kilometers is not too far. It only takes me a day to make the trip. And judging from the fact that he was able to call Dagang, he still cares about us. Besides, even if he doesn't come, I want to know why. What if he has any difficulties or encounters difficulties?"

Cui Xiuyuan was persuaded by Cui Changjia because he wanted Zhang Fengming to come back so much. He was a natural carpenter and could make many designs without showing him the drawings. He could just describe them and he would make them the way he wanted.

Mr. Zhang not only has excellent skills, but also has good character and never keeps anything to himself. It turns out that many of the experienced carpenters in the factory were trained by him.

With someone like this around him, Cui Xiuyuan feels much more relaxed.

Cui Changjia set out at dawn the next day. She did not tell Cui Wenquan where she was going, for she was afraid that she would not be able to call Zhang Fengming and he would be disappointed.

At that time, Cui Wenquan and Cui Xiuyuan had already gotten up and were working in the warehouse.

Because of one person shortage, only more than 300 small folding tables were made all day yesterday. In the afternoon, two stores called Cui Changjia and asked her to deliver 50 tables. After Cui Changjia delivered them in the dark, there were only more than 200 tables left in the warehouse.

Last night, Cui Xiuyuan called four or five of his former employees, but only one, named Haitao, was willing to come. He was a 20-year-old boy and had been an apprentice in the Cui family, doing all the lifting and moving work.

At this point, what else can the Cui family choose from? As long as people are willing to come, it’s good enough.

The road of more than 2004 kilometers would take more than an hour to get there if it was all on the highway, but it was only 2024, not . In addition, there was only a map but no navigation, and Cui Changjia took the wrong road in the middle. Zhang Fengming's home was in the mountains, so it took her three hours to walk the more than kilometers. By the time she arrived at the village entrance, not to mention her, her van was almost falling apart!
Cui Changjia bought five kilograms of eggs and two kilograms of brown sugar at the grocery store at the entrance of the village. In fact, she wanted to buy something better, but there were not many good things in this secluded mountain village.

While she was buying things, the owner of the grocery store pulled her aside and asked her so much gossip that she wanted to know everything about her ancestors.

The village is so small that if someone's sheep is lost it will be the headline news. An "outsider" like Cui Changjia will naturally attract attention.

Cui Changjia could understand, but after paying the money, she ran away!
Zhang Fengming's home is at the top of the village and cars cannot drive up. Cui Changjia can only park the car at the entrance of the village and then move forward step by step carrying his things.

As autumn turns to winter, the sky becomes high and clear, with a few thin wisps of clouds like cotton wool gently blown by the wind.

From time to time, a few chickens and ducks are foraging leisurely in the grass by the roadside, occasionally making a few "cluck" sounds, as if the pace of time has slowed down here. If it weren't for something, Cui Changjia really wanted to stop, do nothing, just sit by the roadside, and watch the clouds for half a day, and all his worries would be gone!

Most of the houses in the village are built on the mountains. The houses that have been renovated are basically red brick and tile houses, and the houses that have not been renovated are mostly made of stone walls with low walls and small courtyards.

Because the buildings were very similar, Cui Changjia asked two children and had someone lead the way for a while before he found Zhang Fengming.

In front of his house there was a chestnut tree that was nearly as thick as a person. The tree had a tall crown and all its leaves had fallen off, leaving only bare branches swaying in the wind.

Under the chestnut tree, there is a yard without a wall and behind it is a low stone house with very small windows. I don’t know what era the house is from.

A middle-aged woman with a headscarf on her head was picking beans in the yard.

"Auntie, hello, is this Zhang Fengming's home?"

The middle-aged woman in a headscarf looked up and asked, "Who are you?"

"Hello, I'm from Cui's Furniture in Zhoucheng. My name is Cui Changjia. Is Mr. Zhang home?"

The woman was very surprised and enthusiastic, "Oh, you are from the state capital, come in quickly, come on, bring anything else."

As the woman spoke, she took the thing from Cui Changjia's hand.

"Auntie, you are"

"I'm Mr. Zhang's wife, just call me aunt."

Aunt Zhang enthusiastically let Cui Changjia go inside, saying, "This is an old house. It's a little dark inside. Be careful on the steps."

"It's okay." Cui Changjia thought Aunt Zhang was just being polite. When he entered, he almost went blind and it took him a while to get used to it.

"Aunt, isn't Mr. Zhang at home?"

"I went to the village to help someone," Aunt Zhang enthusiastically took out a bowl and put some brown sugar in it for Cui Changjia to make brown sugar water to drink. "Drink some water, my girl. It must not be easy to find this place."

"Aunt, don't worry, I'm not thirsty. I'm fine, not too hard."

"You're welcome. Old Zhang always nags about your family." Aunt Zhang brought the brown sugar water to Cui Changjia. "How is your family doing now?"

"Fortunately, we have found a way to open the factory again. My brother called Mr. Zhang before and wanted him to come back, but he didn't want to come back. I came here specially to see what's going on."

After all, the salary that the Cui family paid Zhang Fengming was not low, and there was also a year-end bonus. The factory also provided food and accommodation, so he could save at least 50,000 to 60,000 yuan a year.

Considering the current wage level, this income is already very high.

Aunt Zhang sighed, and then her eyes turned red. "My dear, I'm not afraid that you will laugh at me if I tell you this. Alas," she said, tears falling from her eyes. "It's embarrassing to tell you this!"