Good luck on the start of construction
The next morning, a brand new notice was posted under the old locust tree in the center of Luming Town.
The notice was drafted by Qian Jin and Li Lao after discussion. The handwriting was neat and the tone was sincere. It stated that they needed to recruit craftsmen, laborers, women and children to help with cooking, etc., in order to build a land temple for the town. They would provide two solid meals a day and pay wages in cash. They hoped that those who were interested would sign up enthusiastically.
As soon as the notice was posted, a large number of early-rising villagers gathered around. Those who could read read it haltingly, while those who couldn't squeezed to the side, listening intently.
"Meals provided? And wages paid?"
"Really? Building a temple is a good deed that brings good karma, and you can even make money from it?"
"Miss Qian and Young Master Ao are honest people; they certainly wouldn't lie to us!"
"I'll sign up! I'm strong, I can carry logs!"
"My husband is a really good bricklayer! I'm going to call him when I get back!"
"I can cook and wash vegetables! Count me in!"
The news spread like wildfire throughout the town. Within half a day, a queue had formed at the makeshift "registration point" Qian Jin had set up at the entrance of the old house. Men, women, and children alike were all beaming with enthusiasm and anticipation. There were men carrying hoes who had just returned from the fields, women with their sleeves rolled up, all working efficiently, and even a few teenagers clamoring to help carry bricks and tiles.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming were busy registering people and maintaining order, respectively. Looking at the villagers' simple and enthusiastic faces, Qian Jin felt warm inside and became even more motivated.
At this moment, an old stonemason scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Miss Qian, building a temple is a big deal. We're just rough men, and we're fine with contributing our labor, but we need blueprints to show what the temple should look like, right? None of us have ever built a temple before, so we have no idea..."
"Blueprints?" Qian Jin's eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled. "Yes, yes, they've been prepared for a long time!"
As she spoke, she magically produced a slightly worn, thick notebook with frayed edges from her storage bag. The pages were yellowed, clearly indicating its age. She carefully turned to the last few pages, where a meticulously drawn temple blueprint was tucked inside.
"Look, this is it." She unfolded the blueprints for everyone to see.
Ao Ming curiously leaned closer, looking at the thick notebook filled with various sketches, annotations, and corrections, and couldn't help but ask, "What is this...?"
Qian Jin gently stroked the clear ink lines on the drawing, her eyes tender with a hint of nostalgia, and said softly, "This... I've been thinking about this temple for countless years. In my spare time, I would draw it, and if I felt something was wrong, I would revise it... I drew it and revised it, revised it and drew it again, and this last version is the one I'm most satisfied with."
Ao Ming picked up the heavy booklet and flipped through it casually. The first few pages were indeed various prototypes of temples in his mind, from simple to complex, with the brushstrokes going from clumsy to fluent. Every stroke and line carried endless thoughts and expectations.
He was overwhelmed with emotion, as if through these blueprints he could see Qian Jin alone, silently longing and planning all those years.
The surrounding villagers also gathered around curiously. Although they couldn't quite understand the professional drawings, they all thought the temple was drawn very well, with an ingenious layout and rich details. It was clear that a great deal of thought had been put into it.
"Wow! Miss Qian, you're amazing!" an older woman exclaimed. "Miss Qian is so capable! She's so clever and resourceful!" Everyone praised her, and their admiration for Qian Jin grew even stronger.
Recruitment went surprisingly smoothly, and the required manpower was quickly filled. The day before work was to begin, Qian Jin and Ao Ming hit it off and decided to hold a lively "start-of-work banquet" to thank their fellow villagers and to wish for good luck in the start of the project.
The banquet was held on a gentle, open space overlooking the entire town. A dozen or so square tables were arranged in a row, and almost everyone in the town was invited. The tables were laden with spiritual food and fruits brought from the Dragon Palace, as well as some of the signature dishes cooked by Qian Jin and several enthusiastic women. Large bowls of braised pork glistened with oil, whole steamed fish smelled delicious, and there were also various kinds of wild vegetables, all piled high and filled with fragrance.
The villagers had never seen such a sumptuous and ethereal feast before. They were both reserved and excited, while the children played and laughed around the table, creating an atmosphere as lively as during the Lunar New Year.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Qian Jin stood up, clapped her hands, and signaled for everyone to be quiet. She smiled and expressed her gratitude, envisioning the bright future after the completion of the land temple. Finally, she and Ao Ming gave each villager present a small gift.
The gifts weren't expensive, but they were very practical. The men received sturdy, durable towels, the women received soft, absorbent cotton handkerchiefs and a few delicate sewing needles and thread, and the children each received a few pieces of sweet and delicious Dragon Palace specialty snacks.
The next day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, making it a good day to start work.
As soon as the auspicious time arrived, firecrackers crackled and popped, officially marking the start of construction on the Earth God Temple. Under the direction of Old Li and led by several veteran craftsmen, everyone had a clear division of labor: some dug the foundation, some transported materials, some mixed the mud, while the women were responsible for boiling water, serving tea, and preparing lunch. The scene was bustling with activity, yet everything was in perfect order.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming were also busy. One rolled up his sleeves to help count and move the wood and stones, while the other secretly used his magic to help compact the difficult corners of the foundation. Their efficiency was extremely high.
Busy days always fly by. In just a few days, the temple's foundation had been laid solidly, and its outline was beginning to take shape. Everything was going more smoothly than expected.
After finishing her work that day, the setting sun had painted the sky a magnificent orange-red. Having seen off the last few craftsmen, Qian Jin felt aches and pains, but her heart was filled with joy. She and Ao Ming ate a simple dinner, then, carrying clean clothes, went around to the backyard, followed the cobblestone path, and walked alone towards the hot spring deep in the bamboo forest.
The warm spring water, shrouded in white mist, blended with the approaching twilight. Bamboo shadows swayed and rustled all around, while the lights of the distant town lit up one after another, like scattered stars.
Qian Jin immersed herself in the warm spring water, letting out a comfortable sigh as the warm water enveloped her weary limbs. Gazing at the peaceful town below, listening to the faint sounds of barking dogs and human voices, she felt a deep sense of tranquility and contentment. Perhaps this was the "retirement" life she had always sought: grounded, warm, with something to hold her back, and with a sense of accomplishment.
"Hey—Qian Jin—" Ao Ming's voice came from across the bamboo forest, tinged with laughter, neither too close nor too far, "How was your soak? Did it relieve your fatigue?"
Qian Jin looked in the direction of the sound and saw, through the hazy twilight and bamboo shadows, Ao Ming sitting on a smooth rock not far away, seemingly holding a small wine pot in her hand. He did not approach, adhering to etiquette, yet he couldn't help but want to speak to her.
"It feels so good—" Qian Jin replied, drawing out the sound of running water. She leaned back, "I feel like I've come back to life!"
"It's wonderful to have this hot spring here." Ao Ming's voice was tinged with laughter as he took a sip of his wine. "So, Mr. Qian, how does it feel to be personally carrying bricks?"
"It's been tough, but I'm happy!" Qian Jin scooped up a handful of water and deliberately splashed it lightly in the direction of his voice, even though it didn't actually reach him. "It feels like a dream come true!"
Seeing her happy made Ao Ming very happy too.
The misty air, the hazy night, and the casual conversation at a safe distance created an exceptionally relaxed and warm atmosphere.
The two chatted idly, from the interesting things that happened during the day to the snacks in town. They would occasionally bicker, but most of the time, they simply enjoyed the peace and companionship after their busy day.
Work resumed as usual the next day, and the sun shone brightly as before. Everyone became more and more skilled at their work.
However, just after noon, as everyone was preparing to rest for a while and have lunch, a terrified scream, like a bolt from the blue, suddenly came from the direction of the back mountain!
"Something terrible has happened! It's collapsed! The mountain behind the mountain has collapsed!"
A young man responsible for quarrying stones in the back mountain came running, tumbling and crawling, his face pale, his voice hoarse and filled with panic and fear:
"Old Li! Grandpa Chen! There are several other people...they, they're trapped in the old quarry shaft!"
"Don't panic, everyone!" Qian Jinqiang quickly regained his composure and shouted, "Everyone, grab your weapons and follow me to the back mountain! Those who are light-footed, quickly prepare more torches and water! Hurry!"
She spoke rapidly and clearly, instantly calming the chaotic situation. The villagers, as if they had found their leader, immediately split up and began to act.
Qian Jin and Ao Ming flashed ahead of the others, transforming into two streaks of light and rushing towards the back mountain. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the old mine where the accident had occurred.
The entrance to the cave was blocked by a large amount of collapsed rubble and soil, leaving only a few gaps. Suppressed groans and cries for help could be faintly heard from inside, indicating an extremely critical situation.
"There are about five or six people inside, still breathing, but injured." Ao Ming focused his senses and quickly reported the situation. A sharp glint flashed in his azure eyes, and he formed a hand seal. A gentle dragon magic surged forth, and he carefully lifted and moved the heaviest boulders at the cave entrance, clearing a passage. However, he dared not be too violent, lest he cause a secondary collapse.
Qian Jin wasn't idle either. She directed the able-bodied villagers who arrived later: "Quick! Dig from here! Be careful not to hurt the people inside!" She also grabbed a shovel and worked hard to clear away the smaller stones and soil.
With everyone working together, the passage was quickly opened. Qian Jin and Ao Ming were the first to rush in. They saw Old Li, Old Stonemason Chen, and several others trapped in a corner by falling rocks and mud. They were all injured and covered in dust, but fortunately, they did not seem to be in any danger.
"Quick! Give us a hand!" Qian Jin shouted, and together with Ao Ming and the villagers, they carefully helped or carried the trapped people out of the mine.
Sunlight returned to their faces, and the survivors collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their faces still showing signs of shock. Old Li had a large gash on his leg, from which blood was flowing freely; Grandpa Chen was clutching his arm, his forehead covered in cold sweat, clearly indicating a broken bone; the others mostly had scrapes and bruises.
"Quick, help them back! They need treatment right away!" a woman shouted anxiously.
"But...but Dr. Sun went to his daughter's house in the neighboring town a few days ago and hasn't come back yet!" Someone suddenly remembered this and panicked. The only doctor in town who knew medicine was not there, and everyone was at a loss for what to do about these injuries, running around in a frenzy.
Seeing the pained expressions on the faces of the elderly people, Qian Jin was also extremely anxious.
Just when everyone was at a loss, a loud, slightly drunken voice, like heavenly music, came from the sky:
"Qian girl! Hiccup... I'm back!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com