The repair work officially began the next day. Uncle Li led several young villagers to repair the cracked walls. He first demonstrated to everyone, picking up a shovel to remove the loose bricks and soil around the cracks, and then carefully filling the cracks with the prepared cement mortar.
"Look everyone, when filling, you need to be careful not to leave any gaps. You have to compact the cement mortar," Uncle Li said, demonstrating with his tools. A young villager tried to imitate Uncle Li, but his technique was a bit clumsy, and the cement mortar was not filled evenly.
Uncle Li walked over and patiently said, "Young man, don't rush, take your time. Look, fill in the cement mortar little by little like this, and then gently tap it with a small hammer to make it more compact." He held the young villager's hand and guided him through a small repair, without the slightest impatience in his eyes.
Reinforcing the pillars was a more complex task. A temporary support structure needed to be erected around them to prevent collapse during the reinforcement process. The villagers worked together, some carrying timber, others securing the pillars with ropes. A-Qiang stood beside the pillars, directing everyone. "A little higher over here, yes, tighten the ropes!" he shouted, his forehead covered in sweat.
A new problem arose during the roof repairs. The roof tiles were severely damaged, and some of the rafters were rotten. The villagers needed to carefully remove the old tiles, a dangerous and patient task. Ah-Qiang stepped forward again, climbing onto the makeshift scaffolding and slowly peeling off the tiles, handing them to the people below.
"Qiang, be careful, this roof isn't safe," Lin Yue called out anxiously from below, her eyes fixed on Qiang, her hands unconsciously clenching.
"Don't worry, Sister Lin Yue, I'll be careful," A-Qiang replied. Although he had a smile on his face, he was actually a little nervous and was extremely cautious in every movement.
Thanks to everyone's joint efforts and after several days of hard work, the renovation of the building was finally completed. The formerly dilapidated village office has been completely transformed, with smooth and sturdy walls, pillars firmly supporting the roof, and new roof tiles gleaming in the sunlight, as if the building had been dressed in a brand-new suit of armor.
Next came the interior decoration and layout. Lin Yue and several villagers with ideas discussed the layout of the library and activity room.
"I think we could put a few rows of bookshelves here in the library, with some tables and chairs in the middle, to make it easier for everyone to read," Lin Yue said, gesturing to the locations of the various areas.
One villager suggested, "The cultural activity room could be divided into different areas, such as a place for playing chess, a place for playing games, and some items showcasing the village's culture."
Everyone thought it was a great idea, so they started making bookshelves and tables and chairs. The village carpenters put their skills to good use, selecting high-quality wood and carefully crafting each component through sawing, planing, and chiseling.
As carpenter Master Zhang sanded a wooden board, he said, "This bookshelf has to be sturdy, able to hold a lot of books, and also beautiful and elegant." His eyes were focused, and his tools were handled with ease and dexterity; every movement was filled with dedication to the craft.
When making tables and chairs, the villagers fully utilized their creativity. They used discarded tires and planks to create some unique stools that were both comfortable and environmentally friendly.
Meanwhile, the collection of books and recreational equipment is proceeding smoothly. Lin Yue initiated a donation campaign in the village, which was met with enthusiastic response. The children brought out their beloved storybooks and comic books, their eyes filled with anticipation, hoping that these books could be seen by more of their friends.
A little boy carrying a stack of books ran up to Lin Yue excitedly and said, "Sister Lin Yue, I brought all my books. I hope the library can have more good books." His face was beaming with a pure smile, and his eyes sparkled.
The adults also dug out their unused books, some on agricultural technology, others literature and history. An elderly woman slowly walked over, carrying several old books. "Lin Yue," she said, "these are books my late husband used to love reading. Now that he's gone, I'm donating them in the hope that they might be of use to everyone." Her eyes held a hint of reluctance, but even more so, a deep love for the village.
In addition to donations from villagers, Lin Yue also contacted some nearby schools and charitable organizations. Thanks to her efforts, some schools donated their unused books and stationery, and charitable organizations also donated a batch of books suitable for villagers to read, as well as some recreational equipment, such as chess sets, checkers, and ping-pong paddles.
As the interior decoration nears completion and books and equipment are gradually arriving, the library and cultural activity room are taking shape. The villagers are eager to see it when it's finished, and people come to check on the progress every day.
In the final decoration stage, the villagers hung old photos of the village and calligraphy and paintings created by themselves on the walls. These old photos documented the village's development, featuring ancient houses, traditional farming scenes, and group photos of the villagers; each photo carries a memory. The calligraphy and paintings created by the villagers themselves showcased their love for life and their pursuit of culture.
A young mother brought her child to help. Pointing to a painting on the wall, she said to her child, "Sweetie, look, this was painted by an uncle from the village. When you grow up, you can paint here too." The child looked around curiously, pointing at the photos and asking questions, his eyes full of wonder.
Finally, the day arrived when the library and cultural activity room were completed. The sun shone brightly that day, and the sky was a clear, deep blue—a gift carefully prepared by nature for this special occasion. The villagers dressed in their best clothes and arrived early. The children, as excited as a flock of birds, ran and played among the crowd, their laughter echoing throughout the village.
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