boyutpedia Chapter 53 Foundation Completed
Chapter 53 Foundation Completed
For several days in a row, Xu Chunsheng and his father were busy at the pig farm. Including Xu's uncle's family who came to help, there were a total of twenty-four or twenty-five people on the farm.
The crops in the fields had already been planted, and it was the off-season for farming. Everyone wanted to do some work to earn some cash.
If someone is lazy and tries to shirk their duties, no one will hire them again, so everyone works extra hard.
Building a pig farm doesn't require blueprints; it relies entirely on the experience and skills of veteran craftsmen to lay out the lines and determine the locations before assigning manpower to carry out the work.
You can say that the old craftsmen's aesthetic sense is lacking, but you can't say that their skills are lacking. No matter where they are, they always use plenty of materials.
Under the guidance of experienced craftsmen, the 20-odd people worked in a well-organized manner with clear division of labor.
"Everyone, come and get some steamed buns to tide you over."
It is Cheng Runshu.
She was carrying a bamboo basket of freshly steamed buns, covered with a cotton gauze cloth, from which wisps of white steam could be seen rising.
Several craftsmen greeted him cheerfully:
"Alright, Runshu's here again. What filling is it today? Hehe."
"Old Xu, after I finish fixing this pigsty for you, I'm afraid I'll gain two pounds when I get back."
Some people even made jokes:
"Chunsheng, your family makes corn cakes, steamed buns, and leaf-wrapped dumplings every day. Are you trying to make us eat less of your food?"
Xu Chunsheng also happily joked with them:
"It's not that I'm worried about uncles and elders eating too much, it's that I'm worried you won't have enough to eat and your hands will be too soft to smooth the mortar."
In an instant, everyone burst into laughter.
Cheng Runshu took a steamed bun from the bamboo basket, held it to Xu Chunsheng's lips, and said timidly:
"Brother, take a rest and have a steamed bun first."
Xu Chunsheng noticed the amused expressions on the faces of those around him, tilted his head back slightly, created some distance between himself and Cheng Runshu, and reached out to take the steamed bun from her hand:
"Please deliver it over."
Cheng Runshu seemed oblivious to Xu Chunsheng's subconscious lean back, and said with a smile that crinkled his eyes:
"It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to be able to help my brother."
After Cheng Runshu left with the empty basket, everyone started gossiping about Xu Chunsheng:
"If I didn't know this girl was a relative of his, I would have thought he was Chunsheng's wife."
"The relative is You Fang's niece. I think this child is good. She is good-looking and gentle. The way she looks at Chun Sheng is different."
Some people also joined in the joke:
"Chunsheng, when you look for a wife, you should find one like her—diligent and considerate."
"Haha, the older generation is more experienced. I'm still young, no rush. Who can say for sure about these things?"
Seeing that Xu Chunsheng couldn't get a word in edgewise, someone jokingly said to the others:
"You old codgers, stop embarrassing Chunsheng. Your wages are still in Chunsheng's hands. If you provoke him, who will pay you?"
But he didn't let Xu Chunsheng off the hook either, turning around and winking at him:
"In my opinion, this girl is good-looking and educated. You should seize the opportunity."
……
This kind of scene happens almost every day, and Xu Chunsheng can now joke with everyone without batting an eye.
As the last handful of soil was lifted onto the ground, an excited voice rang out:
"The foundation is dug!"
"Four people come and carry stones to compact the foundation!"
The rammed earth is made by carving a large block of bluestone into a square shape, making it flat and heavy. Handle holes are carved into the top, or hemp ropes or wooden bars are tied to it.
Several strong men, accustomed to carrying goods, paired up and threaded the wooden levers through the rope loops binding the stone rammers, then steadily placed them on their shoulders.
Several men carried a large stone rammer, and the leader shouted work slogans:
"One, two, rise! Kneel!"
The men strained in unison with the chants, and even Xu Chunsheng, who was watching from the side, was silently straining in his mind in sync with the chants.
"Thump—"
A muffled thud came from beneath my feet, causing the surrounding soil and stones to fall down in a rustling sound.
The soil at the bottom of the trench was tamped down repeatedly until it became hard and flat.
The old craftsman standing nearby would occasionally squat down to check whether the foundation was compacted firmly enough.
"Come on, make it more solid, or it will collapse in two days."
This process is to compact the loose soil and backfill soil below to prevent the risk of future ground subsidence, wall cracking, and pig farm collapse.
"Alright, that's sturdy enough. You guys take a rest."
"Zhang Yong, Xu Da, you bricklayers, come over here."
Several bricklayers squatted in the foundation trench, taking large stones handed to them by the people above and pressing them down, then filling the gaps with smaller stones.
"Bring over a bucket of mortar (a mixture of cement, gravel, lime, and water)."
The bricklayer poured mortar onto the stones, spread it thickly and evenly, and then built the bricks layer by layer, reinforcing the corners and edges with large stones.
The foundation was considered complete only after it was built 30 centimeters above the ground, and then the shapes of individual pig pens were created.
This seemingly simple task took three or four days to complete.
Apart from the few people who were building the foundation, the rest of the people were divided into several groups: some were helping to scoop mortar and pour pig troughs onto the molds; others were making the wooden gates and windows for the pigsty; and still others were carrying materials from the road to the pig farm.
The slope was bustling with activity; shouts and the clanging of tools could be heard from a great distance.
……
"Thank you all for your help today. Please drive carefully on your way home."
After dinner, Xu Chunsheng and his father saw off the people who came to help with the work that day.
"Yes, yes, you don't need to see me off anymore, go back now."
The workers, traveling together, chatted and laughed all the way home.
"Xu Hongjun's family is really honest. When I help them with chores, they never lack meat at every meal."
"Hey, that's right, there are also steamed buns and rice cakes to eat. Some people you help with chores, but they won't even cook a sweet potato for you."
A young man who looked about the same age as Xu Chunsheng chimed in:
"Exactly, exactly! It's more meat than my own family eats. I'd be willing to work for them even if they didn't pay me!"
The older man jokingly teased the younger man:
"Then I'll tell Chunsheng tomorrow that you don't need your wages, okay?"
"That won't do; we still need to pay the wages."
"Hahaha"
The laughter carried far.
After everyone had left, Xu's father and Xu Chunsheng sat down to rest.
"Uncle, have some water."
Cheng Runshu brought out a cup of tea from inside the house and handed it to Xu's father.
Mr. Xu paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, I'll take it!"
"Brother, have some water!"
Cheng Runshu smiled and handed Xu Chunsheng a teacup.
Xu Chunsheng reached out and took the teacup, his hand inevitably brushing against her fair, slightly cool fingers.
Cheng Runshu blushed immediately.
"Okay, thank you."
Xu Chunsheng agreed in a low voice.
When Cheng Runshu came to the kitchen, he saw Xu's mother washing dishes, and the eldest sister combing Xu's younger sister's hair. There was also a basket of pig feed that had just been brought back but had not yet been slaughtered. So he came over and took the initiative to slaughter the pig feed.
"Runshu, don't move. Let me finish combing Yaomei's hair, then I'll do it myself."
Cheng Runshu smiled and said, "No need! Sister Chunhua, I'm just killing time anyway."
A moment later, a thumping sound appeared.
"Little sister, do you like Sister Runshu?"
While the eldest sister was combing her youngest sister's hair, she quietly asked her a question.