Chapter 59: Build a shed and stove, prepare for work

Even though they had been traveling all night and were exhausted, the people from Liujiawan were immediately incorporated into the working team.

Especially the new educated youth, who were assigned to carry soil right from the start and simply wanted to die.

Qi Zhijun was trembling as he carried two full baskets of soil. His body was hunched over, his shoulders ached from the pressure, his legs were shaking, and he couldn't stand up straight.

He regretted it. Why did he, a young man from a military and political family in the capital, have to carry dirt with a bunch of peasants?

For Fang Rou?

But Fang Rou isn’t here either?

She became a primary school teacher.

Zhang Xiaojun and Liu Daye also looked half dead. Zhang Xiaojun had evil intentions. He deliberately shook the shoulder pole to shake off a lot of dirt, making the situation much easier.

Liu Daye also learned from them. The two of them were slow in their work. They would speed up when urged, and would slack off when no one urged them.

Among the new male educated youth, only Cai Mingcheng worked diligently.

Although the work here is tiring, he can earn one dollar a day, which is not less than what he earns working in the city. This is also one of the few opportunities for him to earn money, so he cherishes it and perseveres.

Among the girls, the only one who had the same idea as Cai Mingcheng was Qin Fangfang.

God favors fools. Although Qin Fangfang is too honest and not very smart, she is in very good health, even better than the average male educated youth. Therefore, among the new educated youth, she is the only one who works best and walks very steadily while carrying a shoulder pole.

They could even carry two full baskets of soil like the male educated youth.

The other female educated youth was Liu Yan. She was half dead, carrying two and a half baskets of soil, and she was staggering as she walked.

Her footing was unsteady and she fell directly into a pit. She was covered in dirt and almost fainted from crying. Her cries could be heard throughout the entire venue.

Song Lanlan was digging in the dirt. When she heard the voice, she started to curse: "Liu Yan, you idiot, if you try to call me dead again, I will bury you right here!"

Liu Yan had a bit of PTSD caused by her during this period. When she heard her voice, she immediately stopped crying, slowly climbed out of the pit, and carried two empty baskets back.

Under the contemptuous gaze of the digging lady, he set off again, carrying the soil on his shoulder.

There was chaos on the new educated youth's side, but everything was going in an orderly manner on Mingdai's side.

After finding the on-site construction manager to determine where they would live, Mingdai chose a suitable location and planned to build a thatched hut to cook.

All the thatched huts here are made of local materials, and you can find anything you want in the mountains.

After handing the backpack to Liu Guoqiang who was keeping accounts nearby, Mingdai and the other two went up the mountain with hatchets and axes.

Mingdai planned the structure of the straw shed in advance, determined the desired wood, and directly instructed Zhou Sinian to plant the trees.

It was the first time that Mrs. Huang saw Zhou Sinian cutting down a tree. Just a few swipes and a big tree was cut down?

Isn’t it too easy?!

Are the trees here easier to cut down?

She picked up the axe she had brought with her and chopped at the tree beside her, leaving only a shallow mark.

Oh, it’s not the tree’s problem, it’s Zhou Sinian’s problem.

Soon, Zhou Sinian cut the wood they wanted.

Mingdai specifically chose pine trees, which are evergreen all year round. The thick pine needles can be used to cover the roof, which is much better than dry grass.

Soon, the three of them dragged the wood back to where they lived.

Liu Guoqiang came here this time to replace an accountant who had to take leave. It was like getting two salaries and he had a lot of free time, so he was very happy.

I was surprised to see the three of them coming back so soon and bringing back so much wood.

Mrs. Huang just raised her thumb in Zhou Sinian's direction, and Liu Guoqiang kept silent.

After all, he had also been slapped in the face by Zhou Sinian. Although he was implicated, it still hurt just as much!

Ming Dai conducted and Zhou Sinian worked, and the two of them cooperated very well, and outsiders had no chance of interfering.

Mrs. Huang had no choice but to go and get the food that belonged to their Liujiawan.

Zhou Sinian worked very quickly. In less than an hour, they had built the small shed for cooking and sleeping.

Their green shed looked quite nice among the dark yellow thatched sheds, and Mingdai was very satisfied.

Then it’s time to build the stove.

Unlike other families who built stoves outside, Mingdai planned to build the stove inside the shed and build a chimney inside. She had just looked around and saw that there were a lot of gravel here that could be used.

It is mainly placed inside so that they can keep warm while burning a fire.

Zhou Sinian did what he said. It seemed that he knew how to build a stove. After Mingdai told him her requirements, he emptied out the big backpack and went to look for gravel.

When he emptied the backpack, he was smart enough to hide his medicine bag in someone else's backpack.

Unfortunately, Ming Dai discovered it and took it back.

When Zhou Sinian came back with a basket full of gravel on his back and saw the medicine bag on the top, he felt sick and instantly collapsed.

Mingdai chuckled twice and followed them to pick up stones.

When Mrs. Huang brought back the food, she saw that the shed had been built and the chimney was covered with mud.

The one who smeared the mud was Liu Guoqiang, because Zhou Sinian didn't want to touch the yellow mud, and Mingdai was not tall enough, so she had to bother Liu Guoqiang.

Liu Guoqiang was naturally willing, after all, he also wanted to have dinner with them.

After wiping the chimney, Mingdai lit it and smoked a pine branch in the stove to test whether it was leaking.

The effect is very good, and a cloud of black smoke rises straight into the sky.

Because their family had three stoves, Zhou Sinian also built three stoves, one large and two small.

There was only one big pot from the village, and Mingdai washed it and put it on and secured it.

In addition, Mingdai brought a small pot that could be placed on the stove.

There was also another large earthenware jar placed on the other stove eye.

All alive!

It is very inconvenient to get water here as it is a long way to go. Mingdai and Zhou Sinian carried buckets to get water and started to boil water while drying the stove.

Arranging Zhou Sinian to watch the fire, Ming Dai quickly counted the supplies brought from the village.

It was very simple, half a cart of radishes and half a cart of cabbages, a clay pot of pickled mustard oil, and a small jar of salt, that's it.

It's pitiful how little there is.

Mingdai drew a frame next to the straw shed and started digging the soil with a shovel. Mrs. Huang helped and soon they dug a half-meter-high pit.

Pile all the radishes in and cover them with soil again.

Since cabbages are not afraid of freezing, they are piled directly in a corner of the straw shed.

She carefully placed the pork oil and salt in the place reserved on the stove, and told Zhou Sinian not to touch them. After making sure he agreed, Mingdai went out to check on the food she had brought with Mrs. Huang.

Most of the people who came to build the reservoir came for the money, but there were also some who did not have enough food to survive the winter and came here to earn money and get a free meal.

But the food here is not that delicious.

The rice provided during the reservoir construction is also called stone rice because there are many small stones in the rice. It’s okay to eat it, but you’re just afraid of accidentally biting into one.

Every year there are a few people who lose their teeth.