Wei Che was like a general commanding a battle, moving nimbly among the crowd. Wherever there was a shortage of manpower, he would immediately step forward to fill the gap and lead everyone to charge into battle.
The women were naturally not idle either. They gathered together like flowers blooming in spring.
I took out the buckets and rags I brought from home and prepared to clean the place carefully.
Several clever and kind-hearted daughters-in-law gathered together, discussing that when the market was built and opened, they would put a few pots of gorgeous flowers in front of their stalls to decorate the stalls beautifully and attract more customers.
The children were like a group of free, cheerful and lively birds, running and laughing in the open space. Sometimes they helped the adults pass tools, and sometimes they picked up a piece of strangely shaped stone on the ground, compared it with each other, and played with it, adding a bit of playful childishness to this busy and hopeful scene.
The site has been cleaned and leveled almost completely, so setting up the stall becomes the most important and critical step.
Su Huaiyue was not in a hurry. He quietly took out some seemingly simple but actually extremely practical construction tools from the space, as well as wood, bamboo and other materials that had been prepared in advance, and distributed them to everyone in different categories.
These materials were extremely rare in that ancient era. When the villagers saw this, they were so shocked that their eyes widened and their mouths opened so wide that an egg could be stuffed in. Besides being amazed, they were also full of confidence in the success of the market construction.
Uncle Wang, a highly respected and experienced carpenter in the village, was knowledgeable and at this moment he volunteered to step forward and take the initiative to take on the responsibility of setting up the stall.
He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Don't panic, everyone. Let's follow Miss Su's drawings and do it step by step. First, build a stable framework. The mortise and tenon joint structure must be very solid. No carelessness is allowed."
After saying that, Grandpa Wang demonstrated it himself. The young people quickly gathered around him, staring at him intently, afraid of missing a single detail. After a while, they mastered the skills and couldn't wait to start practicing.
Su Huaiyue watched quietly from the side, her beautiful eyes moving around, and gave some suggestions from time to time. According to the guests' habits when choosing items, she slightly adjusted the height and width of the stall, striving to make the guests feel comfortable and convenient.
She was thoughtful and had thoroughly considered the issue of shade and shelter from the rain. She systematically directed everyone to build a simple but practical shed above the stall, and then covered it tightly with thick thatch. In this way, it could effectively provide shade and withstand the drizzle.
Everything is progressing steadily as planned. The villagers are full of energy and have a clear division of labor. The sounds of hammering, axes and chisels interweave into a busy melody.
However, problems are like reefs hidden beneath the calm surface of a lake, and twists and turns are quietly emerging.
The young men in charge of transporting the wood were running back and forth between the site and the wood pile as hurriedly as ants on a hot pan.
But as the construction progressed, their steps became more chaotic and hurried, and the panic in their expressions became more obvious, as if they had a premonition of something bad.
Suddenly, a young man looked as if his buttocks were burned by fire, his face flushed with anxiety, and his face looked just like a ripe tomato that was about to burst.
Beads of sweat the size of beans kept rolling down his forehead, flowing freely down his cheeks, and hitting the dry ground under his feet with a patter, splashing up a handful of dust.
He jogged all the way, and the dust he raised formed a faint tail behind him, running straight towards Su Huaiyue who was concentrating on directing the layout.
"Miss Su, this is bad!" The young man gasped, his voice filled with anxiety and panic, as if he was about to die. "We're running out of wood. What should we do? Our farmers' market is at a critical stage of construction, and many of the shelves haven't been put up yet!"
When Su Huaiyue heard this, her eyebrows frowned slightly, as if a soft cloud was quietly gathering.
She thought for a moment, then turned her neck lightly and looked around.
His eyes swept over the lush forest surrounding the village, which was as vast as a green ocean, and he suddenly had an idea.
In that forest, there are many trees with straight branches and solid wood, which are suitable for making building materials. They are like natural treasures prepared by nature for Wangjia Village, standing there quietly, waiting to be discovered and used.
She acted decisively, raising her voice. Her clear voice, like the sound of a huge bell, echoed everywhere. "Listen up, everyone! We're running low on wood. There are suitable trees in the woods near our village. We need a few strong young men. Come with me, bring axes, and chop some wood."
As soon as he finished speaking, several men with burly shoulders and strong bodies as strong as mountains stepped forward.
Their eyes were determined, like burning torches, and they responded in unison: "Miss Su, let's go!"
Wei Che was helping to fix the shelf not far away, his hands covered with sawdust and dirt.
When he heard the commotion here, especially knowing that the timber was in urgent need, his heart skipped a beat and he couldn't let go of everyone's safety.
The thought of Su Huaiyue going to the woods made him even more uneasy about the unknowns and dangers hidden in the woods.
He took two steps at a time and quickly walked to Su Huaiyue's side. He whispered, "I'll go with you to cut trees in the woods. If something goes wrong, it will be terrible. With me here, at least I can take care of you."
Su Huaiyue looked at his concerned eyes, which were full of worry and protection. Her heart warmed and she nodded slightly, motioning him to go forward together.
A group of people strode towards the woods, holding axes so sharp that they reflected the light.
As soon as you step into the woods, the feeling of tranquility comes over you like a veil, instantly isolating you from the noise of the outside world.
The sunlight shines through the branches and leaves that are as dense as a green dome, casting fine shadows, as if dreamy spots of light are dancing on the ground.
Su Huaiyue looked solemnly at the surrounding trees and reminded them again: "Everyone, we must be careful when cutting down trees. Only cut down those that are thick, straight and dense. Don't damage the vitality of the forest and affect the future ecology.
We need to build a farmers' market while also protecting this green and picturesque landscape, which has been the roots of Wangjia Village for generations."
"Don't worry, girl. We know what we are doing!" The leading uncle responded in a muffled voice. The voice seemed to come from deep in his chest, with full confidence.
The men spread out and began to carefully select. They squinted their eyes, like experienced hunters looking for prey, carefully examining each tree, and from time to time they touched the trunk with their rough hands, measuring the thickness and feeling the toughness of the wood.
After selecting their target, they planted their horses firmly, like pines rooted in the earth, and shouted powerful slogans: "One, two, hey yo! One, two, hey yo!"
The axe chopped down hard, and wood chips flew everywhere, like snowflakes blown by the strong wind in winter.
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