For several days, everyone spent their time eating and drinking. By the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, people who had been idle for a few days could no longer sit still.

Having gotten used to a busy life, I feel uncomfortable after a few days of leisure. At first, I feel relaxed and comfortable, but after a few days, it feels like my whole body is covered in thorns, and I can't even sit still.

Early that morning, Xu Han got up but didn't see Lu Chuan and the others.

Xu Han walked around the front and back yards but didn't see anyone. Just as she was wondering where everyone had gone, Zhao Yunyun walked in from outside carrying Ze'er.

"Sister Xiaohan, you're up."

Xu Han blushed slightly, embarrassed. It seemed she was the last one to get up again today.

Where did they all go? I haven't seen them at all.

Zhao Yunyun explained with a smile, "Everyone's been so bored these past few days that they're practically going moldy. So, early this morning, Grandpa called them all to go down to the fields to weed."

There are few weeds in winter, but that doesn't stop some frost-resistant weeds from growing in the field. I haven't cleared the weeds in the wheat field for a while, so there must be quite a few left.

While washing up, Xu Han laughed and said, "Haha, you can't stay idle anymore, you've started to actively find things to do."

Zhao Yunyun put Ze'er down so he could walk on his own, and said with a smile, "That's right! You can't just sit around doing nothing. There's breakfast in the pot, eat your breakfast first."

"Okay, I'll go eat first. You take care of Ze'er and play."

After Xu Han finished speaking, she turned around and went into the kitchen. After finishing breakfast, she took her tools and went to the wheat field to pull weeds.

The group chatted and laughed as they worked in the wheat field.

Even though we've been chatting every day these past few days, we still have so much to say, as if this meeting is an opportunity to say everything we didn't get to say during the past year when we parted.

Many hands make light work. In just one morning, everyone cleared half of the wheat field. After lunch in the afternoon, they continued weeding, and in one day, they had cleared all the weeds.

On the third day, Zhao Yunyun taught Mu'er medical skills, while Grandpa Zhao went to the orchard with Lu Chuan and the others.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone is not busy during this period, and with Yunhua and Grandpa Zhao as helpers, let's quickly tidy up the orchard.

If it is not cleaned up now, it will be overgrown with weeds again in the spring, and the small shrubs in the orchard will also sprout and grow again.

Including Xu Han, there were five of them in total. It took them two days to clean up the orchard. They then spent another two days clearing out all the uncultivated orchard and digging out all the tree roots from the soil.

By the evening of the tenth day of the first lunar month, all the work was finished. After dinner, everyone sat together, and Xu Han took the opportunity to bring up a new task.

"The stream by the gate isn't very wide, but it's not very narrow either. Although the water isn't very deep, you usually end up getting your shoes wet if you want to cross to the other side. Why don't we take this opportunity to build a small bridge? That way, it will be easier to cross between the two sides."

Lu Chuan thought about it and realized that was indeed the case. For this reason, people rarely went to the other side of the stream. Even though there was a large valley on the other side, people would get their clothes and shoes wet every time they went there, so they would rather walk a little further than go to the other side of the stream.

Grandpa Zhao interjected, "If you ask me, we should have built a small bridge over there a long time ago, so it would be more convenient to go back and forth."

Zhao Yunyun chimed in, "Having a bridge would definitely make things much more convenient."

Yunhua raised a crucial question: "Who among you knows how to build a bridge?"

Xu Han thought for a moment and said, "We can build a bridge with wood. It doesn't need to be too big, just big enough for a cart to cross."

Lu Chuan chimed in, "Making a bridge out of wood isn't difficult. It might not be the most sturdy, but it should last for at least a few years."

Xu Han thought for a moment, then went back to her room and took out her writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Together they discussed how to build the bridge at the entrance.

Lu Chuan suggested, "I think an arch bridge would be better, but arch bridges are relatively more difficult to build, and I'm afraid they won't be sturdy enough."

Grandpa Zhao disagreed, saying, "I don't think it will work. If we build an arched bridge, it will be difficult to push the cart, and it will easily slide down."

Everyone chattered and shared their ideas. Grandpa Zhao listened and drew at the same time, and in the end, the small bridge became a big bridge.

Finally, the Taoist priest made the final decision, saying, "Since we've already started, why don't we just build a big bridge all at once? That way, it will be easier for people to pass through later."

Lu Chuan thought for a moment and nodded. "I think it's a good idea. We don't lack timber anyway, so let's give it a try."

Xu Han agreed, "Alright then, let's build a slightly larger bridge."

Ultimately, for convenience, the bridge on the other side of the stream was changed to a flat bridge.

The bridge deck is supported by six piers at the bottom, and then a slope is built on both sides of the stream.

With the bridge deck lower at both ends and higher in the middle, even during the summer flood season, there is no fear that the water will wash away the bridge deck.

Since the bridge surface does not come into contact with water, it will last longer and is less prone to rotting.

After finalizing the plan, Lu Chuan led everyone to the stream the next day to take measurements.

After taking the measurements, everyone began to build the bridge.

The bridge deck is made entirely of long wooden planks pieced together, supported by a keel underneath. After it was built, I tested it and it turned out to be quite sturdy.

Because the family has never lacked wood, all the wood used to build the bridge is the best hardwood, and a bridge made of hardwood is more sturdy.

After much revision and modification, it took four days to finally complete the basic structure of the bridge. Now all that's left is to install the bridge on the other side of the stream.

However, it's already dark, and we definitely won't be able to finish setting it up today. We'll have to go install it tomorrow, and coincidentally, tomorrow is the Lantern Festival.

Unfortunately, the installation of the bridge has to be postponed again, at least until after the Lantern Festival.

That evening, Yunhua said, "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, we've been staying at home for almost 20 days."

Zhao Yunyun chimed in, "Yes, that's way too fast!"

Grandpa Zhao chuckled and teased, "Haha, you guys don't want to leave?"

Upon hearing this, Yunhua immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice, practically saying yes outright.

But when he accidentally caught a glimpse of his master's expression, he couldn't bring himself to say those words.

A slight awkwardness filled the air for a moment. Then the Taoist priest slowly spoke, deciding Yunhua's fate: "After the bridge is installed tomorrow, you can go back the day after tomorrow."