Chen Lan and the others began tidying up the house after putting down their baskets. First, they cleared out the unnecessary construction debris, packing it into baskets for unified disposal later.
While others were busy with the construction waste, Chen Lan quickly went upstairs. She purchased four sets of cleaning tools from the system and, taking them from the system warehouse, immediately went downstairs to join everyone in cleaning and tidying the house. The house cleaning continued as they chatted. Hu Yuzhen remarked, "The goji berry grove in the front yard needs pruning. It's grown too fast, becoming a messy tangle in just a few months. Xiao Lan, I'm a bit worried it might poke the children. Should we move the goji berry grove outside and plant some fruit trees inside instead? That way, we'll have fruit to eat and also prevent the children from getting pricked."
Chen Lan found Hu Yuzhen's suggestion quite reasonable and asked, "Sister Yuzhen, what kind of fruit trees do you think we should plant!"
Hu Yuzhen replied, "Pear trees, apple trees, jujube trees, plum trees, cherry trees, hawthorn trees, and nectarine trees can all be planted."
Hearing Hu Yuzhen's suggestions, Chen Lan recalled hearing that plums from Northeast China were exceptionally delicious in her previous life. Northeast plum trees were characterized by their drought tolerance, extreme cold resistance, and strong adaptability. Their fruit was crystal clear and sweet.
Apricot trees also had deep roots and could withstand temperatures as low as minus twenty degrees Celsius. Nectarine trees were also drought-tolerant and cold-resistant.
Chen Lan considered that just haphazardly planting in the yard wouldn't suffice. After all, she and her family were likely to live here for decades. Proper planning was necessary to not only green the environment but also for aesthetic appeal and the enjoyment of fresh fruit, achieving multiple benefits.
Chen Lan nodded and said, "I'll suggest a few types of trees suitable for planting here for your reference. See which fruit trees you prefer! The first is grapes. It would be so pleasant in the summer to have meals and chat with family under a grape trellis, enjoying the cool breeze! The second is jujube trees. They have good connotations, symbolizing early childbirth and a happy union. Their fruits are bright red and auspicious. They are drought-tolerant, not afraid of strong sunlight or severe cold. Jujube trees bloom in spring, offering beauty, and by summer and autumn, they bear a tree full of large dates. They can be used for both ornamental and edible purposes. The third is persimmon trees. Persimmon trees are also very resilient and sturdy, with high fruiting rates. Persimmons symbolize that all goes well and all is smooth. Ripe persimmons are also delicious, sweet, and flavorful. They are not demanding about their growing environment, being relatively drought-tolerant and cold-resistant. The fourth is loquat trees. They are also very cold and heat-tolerant fruit trees, sturdy and easy to grow. When loquats ripen, their golden fruits are not only delicious and juicy but also rich in nutrients. The fifth is fig trees, which are also relatively cold-tolerant fruit trees. The sixth is pear trees, which have strong adaptability to the environment and robust vitality."
At this point, Ming Wei spoke up, "Sister-in-law, if winter truly arrives, can we take measures to ensure the fruit trees survive safely?"
Chen Lan replied, "Yes, you're right. We can take some measures. For example, in a place like Changbai Mountain, where the winter temperatures are quite low, we can gather the tree crowns in advance, water them with frozen water, and then wrap the trunks with straw ropes. Applying lime water to the trunks can also help with cold resistance and pest prevention."
Chen Lan continued, "The trees I've mentioned are just for your reference. If you don't particularly like these fruit trees, you can choose the ones you prefer. After all, it's your own yard, and what you like is most important!"
Hu Yuzhen asked again, "Xiao Lan, what kind of fruit trees do you like?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and said, "I prefer grapes, figs, and pears. Oh, I like too many things to eat! We can't possibly plant all of them! How about this! Let's discuss it. Each family can choose a few types to plant, no more than three each. That way, we can have whatever fruits we want to eat."
Everyone considered this and felt it was a good idea. They could plant all the fruit trees that could grow in Changbai Mountain, and their options for desired fruits would be even wider.
As Chen Lan spoke, she increasingly felt the need to meticulously plan and design their own yard.
After all, since ancient times, Chinese people have emphasized the unity of heaven, earth, and humanity. The yard also reflects the prosperity of a family. Living in a large courtyard with family members of all ages, strolling in the yard when tired, looking after children, admiring fruit trees, and watering flowers – this is a lifestyle cherished by Chinese people and a unique Chinese sentiment.
The courtyard provides a stable, peaceful, and harmonious environment; it is a symbol of home. It is also the warmest part of the Chinese life experience.
Therefore, the ground of the courtyard also needs to be well-maintained, not only to look beautiful but also to be practical and comfortable to live in.
With this thought, Chen Lan began to plan. She envisioned the courtyard ground being paved with flagstone paths made of inlaid stones, which would be very interesting to walk on. On either side of the path, she would place some green potted plants as embellishments, creating a Zen-like atmosphere.
In front of the large floor-to-ceiling windows, she would lay down a lawn. In a corner against the wall, she would build a curved deck made of anticorrosive wood, and on it, she would place a two-person swing chair. When the twins, a boy and a girl, grew a bit older, they could sit on it in the mornings and afternoons when the sun wasn't too strong, swinging leisurely and enjoying the fun.
Oh, and there needed to be a place to dry clothes. The weather in Changbai Mountain isn't warm for long, so a place to dry clothes was essential. She would renovate a portion of the ground in front of the sunny side of the house, laying down flat tiles. Clothes racks could then be placed there for drying clothes.
Having thought of this, Chen Lan decided to act immediately.
Looking at the cleaning work inside the house, it was almost finished, with only some detailed wiping and scrubbing left. She said to Hu Yuzhen and the others, "Sister Yuzhen, I'll leave these remaining detailed tasks to you all! I'm going to find some young men to help us dig planting pits for the fruit trees and tidy up the yard."
Everyone said in unison, "Hurry and find them! We also want to see soon what the yard will look like if it's tidied up according to our ideas!"
Actually, Chen Lan was also eager to know what the yard would look like according to her own ideas and requirements. How exciting!
With the hopes and trust of everyone, Chen Lan got up and left the place to find helpers.