The saying "many hands make light work" is truly not just a saying. Including Song Yongren and his son, there were a total of twelve people. The two of them had already built a structure as tall as a person when they were just two children.
Of course, it was lunchtime by then, and Song Lili had almost finished preparing lunch.
Because there were many people, Song Lili made the noodles directly by rolling out wheat flour, oat flour, and corn flour together.
Everyone was doing hard work, and Song Lili was generous, giving each person a large bowl of dry noodles, though she made them into cold noodles.
All the vegetables that could be made into cold dishes were made into cold dishes, and the vegetables that couldn't be made into sauces were mixed with cold noodles and eaten together. Then I stir-fried a few dishes.
In Song Lili's opinion, it was barely enough to entertain guests, but in other people's eyes, it was a delicacy.
The people who were helping out stared wide-eyed at the food on the table, their mouths watering, practically drooling.
Song Lili smiled and placed the noodles on the table. "Everyone, please sit down. It's already midday, you must be hungry. Please sit down."
Song Yongren was also surprised for a moment, but he quickly calmed down. Looking at the ingredients, they were all from his own plot of land, with mostly noodles.
However, after eating like this so often, he stopped noticing anything. Song Jianshe had the same thought, so the father and son also tried to persuade him.
"Hurry up and sit down to eat. We'll need to trouble everyone this afternoon, so don't stand."
"Yes, uncles and elders, please sit down quickly, I'll go get you some water."
After several people took turns persuading them, everyone finally sat down, but their eyes never left the noodles.
Although the people of Hongqi Village have improved their lives a lot this year by following Song Lili's example of growing vegetables in greenhouses, no one dares to eat like them.
Most people save their money for a rainy day; no one is as extravagant as Song Lili.
Therefore, very few people could remain calm upon seeing a dry bowl of noodles. Even Zhang Qinghua, who knew Song Lili well, was slightly surprised.
However, Zhang Qinghua was the quickest to react, and he stuffed a bowl of noodles into the hands of Yang Weimin, who was closest to him.
"Uncle, hurry up and eat. Aren't you hungry?"
A bowl of noodles and chopsticks were stuffed into Yang Weimin's hands, and only then did he feel like it was real.
"Okay...eat...eat, to be honest, I'm really hungry." Then, to the people who were still staring blankly, she said, "What are you all looking at? Will looking fill you up? Hurry up and eat."
"Lili is treating you all to some good food today, so why aren't you eating? What are you all standing there for?"
After Yang Weimin said that, everyone realized what was going on, quickly picked up their bowls and chopsticks, and began to wolf down their food.
Song Lili cooked the noodles, rinsed them with water, stirred them with oil, put them in a large bowl, and served them directly to the table.
"Uncles and elders, please don't be shy. There's more here after you finish eating. Everyone must eat their fill. I'm counting on you to help us finish building the wall this afternoon," Song Lili said with a smile.
Song Lili's calm words put everyone at ease, and someone smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll get you this bowl of rice ready."
"That's right, that's right, Lili, don't worry, Uncle will work hard today and make you happy."
"That's right, that's right..." everyone echoed.
Song Lili smiled and took Song Yongren's bowl, serving him another bowl of noodles. "Then I'll thank you all, uncles and elders."
"Please don't be shy, make sure you eat your fill."
"Don't worry, don't worry, I won't be polite."
"That's right, I don't want to miss out on such delicious food."
Song Lili listened to everyone's conversation with a smile. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly felt a force pulling her from her right side.
Looking down, she saw Zhang Qinghua's hand gripping her wrist, where Li Zhiyuan had pinched her that morning. The area was now bluish-purple and swollen.
Looking into Zhang Qinghua's eyes again, one could see a burning anger within them, like a small flame.
Song Lili smiled and gently twisted her wrist to grab Zhang Qinghua's fingers, tapping them together in his palm.
Then, playfully, she tapped his palm lightly with two fingers, as if dancing.
"It's nothing," she said softly, and only Zhang Qinghua, who was closest to her, could hear her.
Song Lili left the main room in a cheerful mood, but Zhang Qinghua's mood did not improve; his face was still somewhat sullen.
He could tell that the injury on Song Lili's wrist had been caused by someone pinching it, but who could it be?
It seems that it wasn't Song Yongren and Song Jianshe who did it, but who else could make Lili willingly get hurt?
Yes, willingly. Zhang Qinghua knew that Song Lili was willingly enduring this.
Otherwise, given Song Lili's personality, she certainly wouldn't have told him it was nothing, nor would she have said it with a smile. This can only mean that the person holds a significant place in her heart.
But who is it?
Zhang Qinghua decided that he must find an opportunity to ask her properly later. Song Lili was willing to be hurt, but he was not.
Song Lili was in the kitchen, talking to Xia Niu, who was breathing heavily with her mouth open like a puppy with her tongue lolling out.
"Sister-in-law, you've really worked hard today. You should eat quickly, as we'll need a lot of water this afternoon, and I'll have to trouble you with that too."
"Okay...I...I understand," Xia Niu said, her voice trembling with tears. Hearing this, Song Lili's lips curled up slightly, and she felt even happier.
Hmm, why is she so happy when she sees people she doesn't like unhappy?
It seems that sometimes one's happiness is indeed built on the suffering of others, and such happiness is even more joyful.
In the afternoon, everyone worked with all their might, feeling that they would feel guilty if they didn't work hard after eating a big bowl of dry noodles.
Of course, the result of doing so was that they exceeded their task and finished building the wall by around 5 p.m.
Looking at the house that was just short of being thatched with straw, Song Lili smiled happily. "Well, at least I won't have to sleep on the same kang (heated brick bed) with Xia Niu anymore."
Of course, Xia Niu can't move in right away, but she can wait a few days or even a week.
Today, Song Lili felt great. Everything that happened made her happy, and she had a smile on her face all day.
Of course, besides Song Lili, everyone who came to help was happy, even overjoyed.
It seems that only Xia Niu and Zhang Qinghua harbor such gloom in their hearts, and Xia Niu's gloom is heavier.
However, the reasons are completely different: one is out of concern, while the other is out of frustration.
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