Chen Lan was so angry that she ignored Xiang Xi. She walked towards the small hill and said to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, where we're building the pavilion, we need to raise the foundation a bit higher and treat the ground for settlement. We're placing it by the goji berry grove. The cement, sand, and crushed stones left over from repairing the stone path last time are not enough to fill the foundation. Please, you and Lin Mao, take a tractor to Building Five and haul all the unused cement, sand, and crushed stones here."
Xiao Shan and Lin Mao agreed and left. Chen Lan, along with Xiao Shuan, marked out a rectangle seven meters long and five meters wide, about five meters away from the swing set and closer to the goji berry grove. Then they dug out the loose soil within this thirty-five square meter area. Xiang Xi, seeing them working enthusiastically and being ignored, also picked up a tool and came to help. They were all efficient workers, and soon the loose soil on the foundation was cleared.
Just then, Xiao Shan and Lin Mao arrived with the tractors, bringing the cement, sand, and crushed stones. The five of them worked in perfect coordination, expertly laying the foundation for settlement. The first layer was a thick, even spread of all the crushed stones from the tractor, used to raise the foundation. This was followed by a layer of fine sand, and finally, a layer of cement mortar to level the ground. This essentially completed the foundation. Once it had cured for a couple of days, the alloy steel frame of the pavilion could be installed.
Chen Lan asked Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, I'll trouble you to water and maintain the foundation for the next two days. I won't be coming to the valley during this time. My mother-in-law wants me to take the women to the mountains to pick mushrooms and wood ear fungus, and to hunt for game, to prepare for our winter here in Changbai Mountain this year."
Xiao Shan quickly replied, "Sister Xiao Lan, you're too kind. This is what I should be doing. You go ahead and be busy!"
And so, Chen Lan followed her mother-in-law's instructions. For the next two days, after breakfast, she took Cui Qiao, Ming Wei, Hu Yuzhen, and Zhao Xiaoyue to wander the mountains, picking mushrooms and wood ear fungus. Chen Lan's role was to ensure their safety and to hunt.
Lin Mai's job at home was to clean, cure, and dry the game, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus, as well as the vegetables from the garden, and to cook three meals a day for everyone.
Her mother-in-law and Mama Liu and Mama Cui were responsible for ventilating, watering, and disinfecting the fungus shed. They also assisted Lin Mai with processing the mountain goods like mushrooms and wood ear fungus, and the game brought back by Chen Lan's group. They also helped Lin Mai with the three daily meals.
Wen Rou Niang and Xiao Shan's mother were in charge of looking after the four children, making sure they didn't get hurt, bumped, or go hungry.
Everyone was very busy these days. The crops in the fields were nearing maturity, and the busy harvest season was fast approaching. Therefore, everyone working on the construction site was working overtime from dawn till dusk to meet the deadline, leaving early and returning home late, only eating dinner after it was completely dark.
Chen Lan spent three days wandering the nearby mountains with Ming Wei and the others. They harvested a great deal of mushrooms and wood ear fungus, and hunted about two hundred wild chickens and rabbits combined.
One morning, before breakfast, her mother-in-law said to Chen Lan, who was eating breakfast, "Xiao Lan, don't go into the mountains today. Rest for a couple of days before going again. Today, you girls help organize the game and mountain goods we brought back from the mountains these past two days. Your Mama Liu, Mama Cui, and I are old and move slowly. We've been swamped these past two days, and no matter how efficient Mai is, she can't handle so much work alone."
So, Ming Wei and the others stayed to help clean and dry the mountain goods and game. Chen Lan went to the valley to build the pavilion. She arrived at the courtyard of the first house in the valley and inspected the foundation. After several days of curing, the foundation had fully settled and was ready for construction.
Chen Lan then ran to where Xiang Xi, Xiao Shan, and the others were helping with the construction of Buildings Four and Five, and called them over to help start building the pavilion.
The group looked at the construction blueprints and followed the steps. First, they assembled the ground frame. Then came the four alloy steel pillars, followed by the pavilion's roof. Using the construction tools provided by the manufacturer, they quickly assembled the pavilion frame.
Next, they laid the anti-corrosion wood for the roof and applied two coats of anti-corrosion paint. The paint dried quickly due to the hot weather.
Then, they installed an anti-corrosion wood frame on the ground frame, about fifteen centimeters high. This was followed by a five-centimeter-high anti-corrosion wood floor. The floor did not need to be painted with anti-corrosion paint.
After the deep brown floor was laid, they placed light brown anti-corrosion wood furniture and brightly colored soft furnishings. This arrangement created a strong visual contrast and looked very appealing.
Once all the furniture and decorations were in place, Xiang Xi lay on the wooden sofa in the pavilion, hugging a cushion, and began to comment appreciatively, "Mmm, Xiao Lan Zi, the material you chose for this pavilion is excellent, and the colors are also very good. The roof and the floor are made of deep brown anti-corrosion wood, with natural wood grain, giving it a highly natural feel. The furniture is also light brown anti-corrosion wood, enriching the visual layers of the entire space and creating a comfortable visual effect. It instantly makes people want to sit here and relax, shedding all their fatigue."
Chen Lan, sitting on the sofa opposite Xiang Xi and also hugging a cushion, said with a proud tone, "Of course, Xiao Xi Gua. Look at the whole pavilion; it's not only beautiful and elegant, but it can also shelter from wind and rain, and provide a cool place to relax. After dinner, the family can sit together, chat, reminisce about happy times, and feel leisurely and content! In the summer, sitting here with family to cool off and enjoy the scenery allows us to experience the beauty of life without leaving home!"
Chen Lan paused for a breath and called out to Xiao Shan, Lin Mao, and Xiao Shuan to sit down as well, then continued,
"Xiao Xi Gua, with this pavilion, you can invite friends and relatives for tea, chat, and enjoy the scenery in your spare time, relaxing your mind and body. I can also bring the twins here to play when the weather is good. My mother-in-law and the other ladies can also do needlework here while chatting, wouldn't that be great! Don't you think so?"
This time, Xiang Xi genuinely admitted defeat and said with admiration, "Xiao Lan Zi, how does your brain work? Where do you get so many brilliant ideas?"
Chen Lan smiled and said nothing. They chatted for a while longer. Chen Lan asked Xiang Xi, "Xiao Xi Gua, how far along is the construction of the four houses? Can they be completed before the autumn harvest?"
Xiang Xi thought seriously and replied, "I estimate there shouldn't be any problem, as long as it doesn't rain and delay construction. There definitely won't be any issues. What do you all think?" He then looked at Xiao Shan and the others.
Xiao Shan, Xiao Shuan, and Lin Mao nodded repeatedly and replied, "That's right. We've been rushing to meet the deadline these past few days. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be completed before the autumn harvest!"