Chapter 399

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Just as they were speaking, the sound of a truck could be heard from outside.

"New cement's here!" The delivery driver parked the truck and called out to the laborers, "Hurry up and unload!"

Seeing the new cement arrive, everyone in the courtyard relaxed considerably.

Master Wang and Master Li immediately led the laborers to start unloading; Liu San and Chai Youqing also hurried over to help. Seeing that usable cement had arrived and work wouldn't be delayed, Chai Youqing felt relieved, though he still ached over the wasted bags.

"Uncle-in-law, thanks for your hard work!" Chai Mi stepped forward to express her gratitude.

"Hey, it's what I should do! As long as it doesn't delay things!" Zhu Shukun wiped his sweat. "Hurry up, set up the forms, get ready to pour the ground beams! Today, no matter what, we've got to cap the walls!"

With the new cement and Liu San and his wife helping, the people in the courtyard got busy again.

Everyone's bricklaying speed noticeably increased.

Some time was lost in the morning, and Zhu Shukun had said they'd push hard today to finish the wall structure.

Wall piers, door and window openings took shape bit by bit, growing taller.

Liu San and Chai Youqing helped ferry bricks and mortar, running back and forth. Spurred on by Liu San, Chai Youqing also threw himself into it; though his movements weren't as fast as the seasoned hands, he at least stopped slacking off.

In the kitchen, Su Wan and Zhang Hailan were busy preparing the meal — big pots of rice and dishes, heavy on salt and oil; that's what people doing physical labor crave.

By evening, the walls were basically high enough.

"Knock off!" Master Wang straightened his back, wiped his sweat, and bellowed.

"Righto!"

The four brick walls of the three side rooms were already done. Though the ridge beam and purlins hadn't been laid yet, the main frame was complete.

This speed was remarkably fast — basically two days for the main structure. Chai Mi estimated the roof would take another day or so; the rest would just be odds and ends.

Doors and windows and such — haven't bought them yet; we'll just buy them another day and install them.

If we'd hired help, it would've taken at least several days.

The Chai family isn't like Song Qiushui's family — the Old Song family has strength in numbers. Last time they built that warehouse, over a dozen workers showed up at once, and it went fast, but it still took several days.

And even after finishing, there's no peace of mind — you still have to provide breakfast and dinner.

This time we only provided lunch, and that was it. No fussing over morning and evening meals, much more peace of mind.

"Chai Mi." As they were leaving in the evening, Zhu Shukun pointed at the nearly finished walls. "The walls are up. Tomorrow we'll raise the ridge beam, lay the purlins, and tamp the roof. Strictly speaking, the few of us could manage, but we'd definitely drag it out till late afternoon, maybe even work in the dark. If you want a clean, same-day cap, we need a few more able-bodied hands. Laying purlins can't be done with too few people; otherwise we'd take a whole day and still not finish, spilling into a second day, and you'd pay more in wages. You find a few laborers to help, we'll push harder too — the work will be solid and save on labor costs."

Chai Mi nodded immediately at his words: "Alright, Uncle-in-law, your call. How many?"

"Seven or eight strong laborers, quick on their feet." Zhu Shukun counted on his fingers. "Raising the ridge beam takes four; the purlins are heavy, need steady men. Also need strength, so no time is wasted climbing up and down."

"Mm, got it."

Chai Mi saw off Zhu Shukun, Master Wang, and the others, looking at the three side-room walls now taking shape, mentally calculating tomorrow's work.

Zhu Shukun was right — raising the ridge beam, laying purlins, and tamping the roof is heavy labor and critical work; hiring a few more people to finish in one day is the most cost-effective.

She turned to Liu San and Song Qiushui, who hadn't left yet: "Cousin, Qiushui, tomorrow I'll have to trouble you again. Qiushui, come early tomorrow to help my mom cook — lots of people, lunch needs to be ample and good. Cousin, you come too, lend a hand — raising the beam and lifting purlins need strong backs."

Liu San thumped his chest: "Rest easy, Chai Mi! I'll be there whenever you call! Lifting beams, carrying purlins — this strength of mine is still good!"

Song Qiushui pursed her lips: "Fine, fine, just know how to order me around. But I'm not climbing on the roof — crawling on rafters is too much effort!"

Chai Mi ignored her grumbling and looked at the listless Chai Youqing: "Dad, tomorrow you don't sit idle either — ferry bricks, pass mortar, keep an eye on the laborers, don't let them damage the new walls with clumsy hands. Also round up Liu Chengjie and Liu Chenglei, those two brothers, plus my two uncles and three cousins from Grandpa Liu's house — just say we're capping the roof tomorrow, ask them to come help, and they can have some drinks too."

Hearing he wouldn't have to carry the main beam himself, Chai Youqing breathed a sigh of relief and readily agreed: "Aye, alright! I'll go call them right now!" He took off at a jog.

Liu Chengjie and Liu Chenglei, those brothers, were the most straightforward — agreed the moment they got word. The rest were honest folk too, no fuss. Together with Liu San, they made exactly seven or eight strong laborers.

The next day, early morning, just as dawn was breaking, the helpers and the workers Zhu Shukun brought arrived at the small courtyard almost simultaneously.

The courtyard instantly filled with people, bustling extraordinarily.

Zhu Shukun took one look at the turnout and grinned: "Good! Chai Mi handles things efficiently! Everyone's here, let's get to work! Old Wang, Little Li, take men and haul those twenty-four red pine purlins over, sort them by length! Little Zhang, take two laborers and prep the Chinese fir rafters! The rest of you, follow my orders, get ready to lay purlins! First, a word: this work is dangerous, everyone watch out — if you can't do it, don't show off up there; a fall is absolutely unacceptable."

Master Wang and Master Li led several laborers, chanting work chants, and carried the heavy red pine purlins one by one to the foundation. Liu Chengjie, Liu Chenglei, Liu San, and the other strongest men were designated by Zhu Shukun to carry the purlins up.

"One, two, three — heave!" At Zhu Shukun's roar, several men straightened their backs and the purlins left the ground.

Each purlin weighed two or three hundred catties; for several young men in their prime, it wasn't too strenuous.

Zhu Shukun and Little Zhang directed from atop the walls: "Slowly! Left side higher! Good! Hold steady! Lower!"

Carried to the house base, one end propped on the wall top, the other end below, then ropes were fastened and that end hauled up along the wall.

Song Qiushui watched, tongue-tied: "Those huge wood blocks look so heavy! Liu San, can you handle it? Don't throw out your old back!"

Liu San was down below helping pull ropes, face flushed red, but still shot back: "Underestimating your brother! Steady as a rock!"

Chai Mi, Su Wan, and Zhang Hailan were rushed off their feet in the kitchen, preparing food for over a dozen people. Chai Youqing, with one laborer, handled ferrying rafters, necessary tools, and mortar down below, directing the laborers.

The purlins took over two hours to get all of them up; then they started laying rafters.

Rafters went up fast — one Chinese fir rafter after another nailed onto the purlins, forming the roof skeleton.

Next came laying thick planks on the rafters — basically small scrap wood pieces.

Once that was laid, they spread a layer of earth or clay, tamped it down, and finally topped it with cement tamping.

"Lay it tight! Pack the edges well!" Zhu Shukun inspected from the roof.

The most labor-intensive and progress-showing step: "tamping the roof."

Since the roof was fairly high, they had to build a staging platform with the mixed cement-sand — concrete — first throw it onto a platform, then transfer it up to the roof in a second lift.

No slacking on this job — it's all brute force.

Masters and laborers all pitched in, working furiously.

By noon, the earth layer on the three rooms' roofs was basically covered, and one room already had concrete poured.

Su Wan and Zhang Hailan set out the food: "Time to eat! Everyone take a break, eat then get back to work!"

Everyone put down their tools and gathered around to sit. After a morning of hard work, this meal tasted especially fragrant—the steamed buns were plentiful, the meat stewed until falling apart, the pickles refreshing, and the wine warmed. Liu Chengjie ate with oil dripping from his mouth: "Chai Mi, your family's rice is hard! Put in more effort this afternoon, and we'll surely finish!"

Chai Youqing also rarely didn't complain of tiredness, following along with two sips of wine.

After a brief rest following the meal, Zhu Shukun called everyone: "After finishing the top, directly plaster the surface, make it smooth and glossy for me! This surface work—if done well, the house won't leak for decades!"

Everyone agreed.

Chai Mi looked at the roof, which was nearly done. The work went fast and wasn't labor-intensive; she was very satisfied.

She walked over to Zhu Shukun, who was working: "Uncle by marriage, you've worked hard! The work is fast and good!"

Zhu Shukun wiped his sweat and smiled: "It's what we should do! You use plenty of materials, and your helpers are sturdy—everything goes smoothly!"

"There's another thing I'd like to ask you," Chai Mi asked as the opportunity arose, "these doors and windows still haven't been arranged. You go to many places—do you know who does good work? Preferably ready-made goods that can be installed on-site."

Zhu Shukun thought for a moment: "If you're talking about ready-made ones that can be installed on-site... you need to find Li Jinfu. He used to be a well-known carpenter in our area, and these past two years he's had vision, contracting the abandoned old cannery factory building at the east end of the township, setting up a small workshop specializing in plastic-steel and wooden doors and windows—new styles, and sturdy too. He has ready-made samples there; once you confirm the dimensions, they can deliver and install, saving you trouble. His son also brings several people to work with him, so the installation crew is ready."

"Li Jinfu? Fine, I've remembered him. Where exactly is his place in the cannery?"

"Just go in the main gate of the cannery, the first large workshop on the left. There's a 'Jinfu Doors and Windows' sign at the door, easy to find."

"Fine, thanks, Uncle by marriage." Chai Mi now had a clear idea, then continued, "You see, the house shell is up, but the interior flooring, the kang, and the plastering and jointing of interior and exterior walls—these finishing jobs... can you bring people tomorrow to continue? Get it all done in one go, so we don't have to find others again."

Zhu Shukun nodded cheerfully: "Fine! As long as the materials are ready and someone supplies them, we'll contract all these odd jobs! We'll come first thing tomorrow morning!"

In the evening, after sending off all the helpers and workers, the courtyard grew quiet.

Chai Mi said to Su Wan: "Mom, tomorrow I'll go to Li Jinfu's place to order the doors and windows. Use cement for the floor—sturdier. Brush the walls with lime—brighter too. And there's the kang work; we'll see when the time comes. I heard some people lay bricks for the kang—saves trouble."

Su Wan looked at the new house, her face full of relief: "Or maybe we should still use earth blocks—I've heard brick-laid ones are cold, not as warm as earth blocks... tomorrow have your father go dig some?"

Chai Mi glanced at the dejected Chai Youqing: "Fine, Father, later you go to the clay pit west of the village and haul two board carts of earth back, for the kang. Dig it solid, don't let it crumble at a touch."

Chai Youqing replied softly: "I know."

Early the next morning, Chai Mi settled things at home, had Liu San help look after Zhu Shukun and the others as they started work, then rode her bicycle straight to the abandoned cannery at the east end of the township.

Just as Zhu Shukun had said, in the dilapidated factory grounds, the first large workshop on the left had a prominent "Jinfu Doors and Windows" wooden sign at its door. The sounds of electric saws and nail guns came from inside the workshop. Chai Mi pushed the door open—the interior was spacious, piled with various specifications of lumber, plastic-steel profiles, and several finished door and window samples leaning against the wall. A thin man in his fifties, wearing old work clothes and reading glasses, was guiding two young men in their work.

"Master Li?" Chai Mi called out.

Li Jinfu raised his head, pushed up his glasses, saw who had come, and looked somewhat surprised: "You are..."

"I'm Chai Mi from Sanjiacun, sent by Master Zhu Shukun, here to look at doors and windows."

"Oh! From Sanjia! Come in and take a look!" Li Jinfu warmly greeted her, pointing to the samples by the wall: "These are all ready-made styles. Wooden ones, and plastic-steel ones too. The wood is pine, varnished; the plastic-steel is a new material, more airtight, no need to paint, easy to manage. Which do you want? What size?"

Chai Mi examined the samples carefully, and tested their opening and closing and weight with her hand.

The wooden doors and windows were heavy and antique; the plastic-steel ones were light and bright.

"I need them for the newly built side rooms—three rooms, two doors, two large windows. The windows should be large, to let in light. Plastic-steel ones—saves trouble. The dimensions..." Chai Mi reported the reserved door and window opening sizes.

Li Jinfu took out a small notebook and wrote them down: "Plastic-steel... fine. Large windows according to your stated dimensions, with four sashes, tempered glass. The doors are whole doors with door frames. These specifications... let me calculate." He took out a calculator and pressed a few keys: "Two doors, one hundred twenty each, two hundred forty total. Two large windows, three hundred fifty each, seven hundred total. Nine hundred forty altogether... I'll charge you nine hundred, including delivery and installation."

Chai Mi felt assured—the price was a bit lower than she'd expected, but there was still room to negotiate: "Master Li, Master Zhu said your materials are solid and your craftsmanship good. I need two sets at once, and you were introduced by him, so can you give me a better price? Eight hundred, and I'll pay cash on the spot. In the future, whenever anyone in the village builds a house and needs doors and windows, I'll definitely recommend you."

Li Jinfu smiled bitterly: "Girl, you drive a hard bargain... my small business—factory rent, materials, labor, all going up. Mainly this plastic-steel material isn't cheap..."

"Master Li, you contracted this old factory, so the rent must be cheaper than a new place. You have the craft, and your son works with you, so labor is saved. My order may not be big, but I pay cash promptly. You take small profits and sell in volume—once your reputation gets out, business will be better, right? You earn a little less now, and when we build our main house later, we'll still come to you." Chai Mi spoke earnestly.

Li Jinfu hesitated for a moment, then looked at the written-down dimensions, and finally waved his hand: "Fine! For old Zhu's sake, and for your straightforwardness, fine! Tomorrow morning, I'll have my boys haul it over and install it for you!"

"Thank you, Master Li! It's settled then!" Chai Mi cheerfully took out money and paid the deposit.

Afterwards Chai Mi went to the hardware store again, bought some small parts, then returned home.

"Are the doors and windows ordered?" Su Wan asked when she saw Chai Mi return.

"Ordered. Li Jinfu's plastic-steel windows, wooden doors will be installed tomorrow morning." Chai Mi answered.

"Once it's done, let Xiu'er move in early, and I'll rest easy. Otherwise, running around like this is truly exhausting."