He says he wished he had a parcel from home but knew that his family needed all the money they could get without him there to support them. He says the only time he thinks of home is when he sees everyone with the goods sent from their families other than that he was too worn out from working to have any idle thoughts. Even though the village Shukov lived in had changed he still wanted to one day return and see his wife and kids and receive a reward for the work he had done. He was a very hard worker even in the camp and he still received little in return for the work he put in. He knows that one day if he is free he can put in this type of hard work and be justifiably rewarded. He shows this when he says "Easy money weighs light in the hand and doesn't give you the feeling you've earned it." The only true reward he received was Tiurin's satisfaction. Tiurin had become a father figure for the squad and many of the men were as close as brothers.
The members of the 104 had a certain closeness that resembled the way a family would act. Members of a squad seem to look out for each other the way an older brother would look out for his younger brother in a difficult situation, and even take some of the blame if he had to. Fetiukov was the sneaky one in the squad who did not always carry his share of the load in the work place or would do wrong and cause trouble with a member of another squad, but Shukov truly cared for him. He would stick up for him and make sure he was taken care of. When Shukov is threatened by the man who scolded him for taking the roofing felt the squad was there to protect him. Senka, who was a very large squad member, stood up ready to attack the man who was threatening Shukov. This is what a big brother would do for his younger brother in a situation where the younger was threatened. The two Estonians were more than best friends, they were soul mates.