Chapter 138: Raising the Ridgepole, Rewarding

Chuxue didn't know she was already being targeted, and she was still thinking about finding an opportunity to repay the favors she owed. After all, she was the type of person who hated owing favors the most.

The people Liangzi found were very capable. In a few days, the walls of the main house were built. On the day the ridgepole was raised, the old branch secretary came to preside over it, and Liu Shanliang was carried up by Chuxue, the strongwoman, stepping on the scaffolding.

Chuxue was by his side, assisting him in completing the process that the pillar of the family should do. Once the firecrackers sounded, Liu Shanliang, full of smiles, threw down the thumb-sized steamed buns, candies, and coins that the family had steamed, attracting a scramble from the villagers who were watching the fun.

After Liu Shanliang came down, he was surrounded by villagers and congratulated. He felt a bit dizzy; the scene felt somewhat unreal.

He felt that ever since his leg was injured, he had actually been blessed by misfortune, with one good thing after another following. Being able to live in such a good brick house was something he wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

Yesterday, Chuxue had someone build a simple stove not far from the new house, and early in the morning, she borrowed the village head’s bicycle and made a trip to the northern suburb farm reservoir, collecting another wave of fish, shrimp, and crabs into her space.

After the ridgepole-raising ceremony was completed, the aunts and grandmothers who came to help started getting busy.

There were many people who came to help Chuxue. After sending Liu Fu home, she took a basket and went up the mountain, using the space’s pool water as bait to wipe out a rabbit nest. She sent the four small ones directly into the space, setting an intention that they could only move on the mountain.

She originally wanted to see if she could catch a wild chicken or something, but unfortunately, she couldn't find a single feather.

Seeing it was getting late, she had to hurry down the mountain; after all, she couldn't delay the meal to reward everyone at noon.

Originally, seeing those fish, the aunts and grandmothers who came to help felt the Liu mother and couple were generous. They didn't expect that just after cleaning the fish, Chuxue would return with two fat rabbits. The people working on the roof had even more energy now.

Uncle Liangzi also shouted loudly: "The host has spent a lot of money today, everyone must put in more effort."

A group of men responded with smiles, working in full swing.

After the ingredients were prepared, Chuxue did the stir-frying herself. Taking advantage of when no one was looking, she added a tiny bit of the space’s pool water. Because it was a big pot of food, it only served to enhance the flavor, and that was enough.

Before the food was out of the pot, the people working were already drooling and frequently looking toward the big stove.

When the mixed-flour steamed buns were out of the pot, they heard Cuihong, who came to help, shout: "Dinner is served."

Chunxiao, who came back from school, also had the sense to bring a basin of water: "Uncles and brothers, come over here to wash your hands."

Everyone was already starving, so they obediently washed their hands and hurried over with their own big bowls to serve the food.

Two scoops of braised fish, one scoop of braised rabbit meat with dried radish, and five mixed-flour steamed buns per person. The aroma of the food made people dizzy with hunger.

Some couldn't bear to enjoy it alone, so they carried the food and held the buns, rushing home to let their families taste it too.

Others couldn't resist the temptation and tasted it first, leaving only a few bites for their wives and children. Of course, there were also those who enjoyed it alone without a care. In short, everyone was very satisfied with this ridgepole-raising meal.

After the main house’s ridgepole was raised, Chuxue would run to the mountain whenever she wasn't busy.

First, to find trees suitable for roof beams so she could return them to the village as soon as possible, and second, to see if she could find some special species to enrich her space.

And so, today she found wild pear trees, hawthorn trees, apricot trees, and even two prickly ash trees. She moved them all into the space and, while preparing to return, discovered two small beehives. This made Chuxue very happy.