After the workers finished eating their flatbreads, they went back to work. Tian Yu looked at the messy dishes and said loudly to Chen Chong, "Master Chen, since you've already skipped work all morning, why don't you stay and help with the cooking this afternoon?"

"Okay!" Chen Chong said with a smile.

Tian Yu tidied up the kitchen and washed the pots. She put the pork offal that she had prepared yesterday into the pot, added seasonings, and braised it together. Chen Chong was in charge of chopping firewood and starting the fire. After leaving the kitchen to Chen Chong, Tian Yu went to mix the coarse flour she had bought today with warm water to make a paste. After mixing the paste well, she started to build the large iron disc she had bought. She found three bricks of suitable size, placed the cleaned iron disc on it, lit a fire underneath to heat it up, and then repeatedly wiped it with oil. She turned off the fire and let it cool. While waiting, she found a thick bamboo and asked Chen Chong to help her cut it into a rectangular thin slice and soak it in water. After the iron disc cooled down, Tian Yu lit a fire again, heated it up over a small flame, and wiped it with oil again. Fortunately, the thatch that had been taken down from the house before had not been thrown away, and it could now be used to start a fire. After Tian Yu finished tidying up the area, Chen Chong's braised pork was almost done cooking. He went to Tian Yu's place to help with the fire, but Tian Yu told Chen Chong to keep the fire small this time and to ensure the iron disc heated evenly. Seeing how well Tian Yu and Chen Chong worked together, the other workers jokingly suggested they should just live together. Tian Yu glanced at Chen Chong, and the two smiled faintly without saying a word. Tangyuan, perhaps because Tian Yu had left that morning, didn't want to go out to play. She stayed close to Tian Yu with her furry friend, watching instead of helping. Occasionally, she would ask Tian Yu questions she didn't understand, and Tian Yu patiently answered them. For example, now, after watching for a while, Tangyuan finally couldn't help but ask, "Mommy, what are you doing?"

"You'll find out soon. Now, help your mother check how well Uncle Chen's bamboo strips are soaking."

"Okay, Mao Rong, come here quickly." Mao Rong followed Tang Yuan excitedly, perhaps because she smelled the aroma from the pot.

Several workers also sniffed the air, envying those who could stay for dinner. They were sure to have a good meal tonight. At this moment, Uncle Ping said, "See? I told you my niece-in-law's cooking was good, but you didn't believe me. Now you do."

Everyone burst into laughter, saying they believed it, and they seemed to have even more energy to work.

Tian Yu added some oil to the batter, and when she felt the iron plate was hot, she started making pancakes. The first few were not ideal, clumping together into dough lumps. Fortunately, after a few tries, they gradually took shape. Chen Chong and Tian Yu both mastered the heat and technique, and they became much faster after getting the hang of it. Tang Yuan watched from the side. Many of the first few lumps were eaten by Mao Rong, and Tang Yuan also ate some. Although they didn't look very good, they were quite delicious.

"Mother, what kind of pancake is this? It's so thin and crispy."

"Pancakes are a type of food from northern China; they probably don't exist here."

"Oh, how do you eat this? Won't it crumble too easily like this?"

"After it cools down, it will soften and can be stacked up to wrap various foods together."

"Can I roll anything?"

"Of course, you can roll anything together to eat."

"I can't wait to try the glutinous rice balls."

Tian Yu took a break and rolled up a dumpling with pickled garlic sprouts from home. Tangyuan ate it happily, saying it was delicious, which made the workers' mouths water. They clamored to stay for dinner that night. Tian Yu agreed that after finishing the work, everyone could have a taste, but not to the point of being full, because there weren't enough. She would make more next time and make sure everyone was full. Hearing this, everyone worked with renewed vigor, as if putting in the effort would make time pass faster.

Tian Yu mixed two bowls of batter, finishing them almost before they finished work. She chopped the cooked braised pork offal and put it in a bowl, then put a plate of pickled garlic sprouts on it. She set out two chopsticks, and the workers, having washed their hands, stood in pairs, waiting for Tian Yu to distribute the pancakes. Tian Yu first folded a pancake, rolled it up with braised pork offal and garlic sprouts, and demonstrated. She handed the rolled pancake to Zhao Jinxin to thank him for his help, saying that without it, the house wouldn't have been built. Zhao Jinxin declined, saying it was his duty. Seeing that Zhao Jinxin wouldn't accept, the others were impatient and couldn't start, so they all urged Zhao Jinxin to try it. Zhao Jinxin finally took a bite, and seeing everyone waiting for him, he nodded hurriedly, saying it was delicious.

Tian Yu folded a pancake and handed it to them one by one. Each person ate a dozen or so. Some people didn't like garlic sprouts, so they left them out. The pot of braised pork and the plate of garlic sprouts were all gone, and the workers happily went home. Tian Yu, Chen Chong, and the few remaining people stared at each other. The Liu brothers and the five soldiers hadn't dared to eat earlier, thinking they should let the others eat first, and that they could wait. Tian Yu noticed their worry and folded the last pancake before saying, "Don't worry, there's more in the pot." The group visibly relaxed. When Chen Chong and Tangyuan brought Xiaoju back, Tian Yu had already prepared dinner: a pot of rice porridge, the remaining braised pork, and a dozen or so salted duck eggs. At the table, Tian Yu specially rolled a pancake for Chen Chong, saying thank you for looking after Tangyuan and Xiaoju today.

Afterwards, Tian Yu made pancakes twice and steamed buns twice. Fortunately, there were many people and the weather was good. In about half a month, the house was basically completed. The remaining wooden stakes for the roof were erected by a professional carpenter in two days, and the remaining tiles were basically laid by Zhao Jinxin and several skilled villagers in two days. Tian Yu and Chen Chong discussed and set a specific date for the roof-raising ceremony and banquet. The five soldiers and the two Liu brothers were also seen off one after another. When they left, the five soldiers almost cried. They were all forced into military service, and their time with Tian Yu had made them very homesick. Tian Yu gave each of them two hundred coins as wages, but they refused to accept it. Li Yong had told them not to take money when they came. Seeing that they absolutely refused to accept it, Tian Yu packed some pancakes, steamed buns, and stir-fried pork for each of them before seeing them off. The two Liu brothers each received about three or four hundred coins. After receiving their money from Zhao Jinxin, they returned to Tian Yu's place to leave fifty coins for food. Tian Yu refused, explaining that they had worked hard for over half a month and their families needed the money; how could Tian Yu accept it? The brothers thanked them repeatedly before leaving, saying they should definitely come to see them if they ever needed anything. Tian Yu nodded in agreement. As they left, Tian Yu told them that the roof beam would be erected in ten days and invited them to a feast if they had the time and convenience. They both promised to come.

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