Chapter 141: Raising the Ridgepole, Rewarding the Helpers

Liu Chuxue had no idea she had already been remembered by someone, and was still thinking about finding a chance to repay the favor she owed, since she was the type who disliked being in anyone's debt.

The people Uncle Liangzi found were very capable; in just a few days the walls of the main house were stacked up, and on the day of raising the ridgepole, the old branch secretary came over to preside, and Liu Shanliang was carried up on a plank by Liu Chuxue, their little strongwoman.

Liu Chuxue stood right beside him, helping him through the rituals expected of the household's ridgepole-bearer. The moment the firecrackers went off, Liu Shanliang, beaming all over his face, threw down the thumb-sized little steamed buns the family had prepared, along with candies and coins, sparking a scramble among the villagers who had gathered to watch the fun.

After Liu Shanliang came down, he was surrounded by villagers offering congratulations, and he felt almost dizzy with it all—the scene felt unreal.

He felt that ever since his leg was injured, misfortune had actually turned into a blessing; one good thing after another had come rushing in. Being able to live in such a fine brick house was something he wouldn't have dared dream of before.

Yesterday, Liu Chuxue had people build a simple stove not far from the new house. Early that morning she borrowed the village chief's bicycle, made a trip to the northern suburbs farm reservoir, and tucked another batch of fish, shrimp, and crabs into her space.

Once the ridgepole ceremony here was complete, the aunties and grannies who had come to help started bustling over there.

Liu Chuxue, seeing there were plenty of helpers, sent Liu's father home, then took a back-basket straight up the mountain. Using the spring water from her space as bait, she wiped out a rabbit warren; the four little ones she sent straight into the space, using her will to set it so they could only move about on the mountain.

She had originally wanted to see if she could catch a wild pheasant or something, but unfortunately she didn't even find a feather.

Seeing it was getting late, she could only hurry back down the mountain, after all she couldn't delay the midday meal meant to reward everyone.

Originally, seeing all that fish, the aunties and grannies helping out already felt the Liu parents were generous. They hadn't expected that just as the fish was being cleaned, Liu Chuxue came back carrying two fat rabbits, and the men working on the roof now had even more energy.

Uncle Liangzi also called out loudly: "Today the host has really put out a fortune, everyone needs to put in extra effort."

A group of men laughed in agreement, working with fiery enthusiasm.

Once the ingredients were ready, Liu Chuxue did the cooking herself. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, she also added just a tiny bit of the spring water from her space. Since it was a big-pot dish, it only served to enhance the flavor, and that was enough.

Before the food was even out of the pot, the workers kept casting covetous glances toward the big stove.

As soon as the buns made of mixed flour came out of the pot, Cuihong, who had come to help, let out a call: "Food's ready!"

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

Everyone had been craving it for ages; obediently washing their hands, they hurried over with their own big bowls to scoop up the food.

Two ladles of stewed fish chunks each, one ladle of radish-dried stewed rabbit meat, and five mixed-flour buns—the aroma of the dishes had everyone dizzy with craving.

Some people couldn't bear to enjoy it alone, so they carried their dishes, clutching their buns, and hurried home, wanting their family to taste it too.

Others couldn't resist the temptation and tasted it first, leaving only a few bites for their wife and children. Of course, there were also the unfeeling ones who enjoyed it all themselves. In short, today everyone was very satisfied with the ridgepole-raising meal.

After the main house's ridgepole was raised, whenever Liu Chuxue had a moment, she would head up the mountain.

One reason was to look for trees suitable for ridgepoles, so she could return them to the village as soon as possible; the other was to see if she could find some special species to enrich her space.

Sure enough, today she found wild pear trees, hawthorn trees, apricot trees, and even two prickly ash trees, all transplanted into her space. On her way back, she also discovered two small beehives, which delighted Liu Chuxue immensely.