Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 16: 16 sheepfold

Hu Chunhua and her husband, Yang Minggang, came over with tools.

”Yuanyuan, what are you doing?”

”Aunt, Uncle, you’re here. I suddenly thought of the roof. What if there’s a heavy snow?”

”I’ll get the ladder and take a look. If it’s no good, we must reinforce the roof as soon as possible. This is urgent, and the weather looks fine. Who knows when it might snow?”

Yang Minggang put down his tools and turned away.

”Aunt, what do we need to fix the roof?”

”Yellow earth, wheat straw.”

”Aunt, we don’t have wheat straw at home. Can I use dry grass instead? I’ve prepared a lot of dry grass.”

”I have wheat straw at home. Save the dry grass for the sheep to eat.”

Su Yuanyuan didn’t hold back. When fleas are many, they don’t bite; when debts are many, they don’t worry. She knew Hu Chunhua’s good intentions and would certainly repay in the future.

Yang Minggang came over carrying a ladder. He climbed up but didn’t dare to step onto the roof.

”We’ll need to find someone to fix the roof tomorrow, or we won’t get through the winter this year. Actually, this roof was done by your grandpa himself last year.”

Su Yuanyuan bowed her head, feeling a little sad thinking about the only person who was kind to the little girl.

”Alright, let your Uncle find some people tomorrow, and it’ll be done in a day.”

Su Yuanyuan raised her head, ”Uncle, why don’t you go inside and see if the beams and trellis need changing? Since we’re hiring people, we might as well replace them too, so they last longer.”

Yang Minggang went into the house and inspected all three rooms. ”The beams and trellis are fine. How about we just remove all the mud tomorrow, and there’ll be no problem.”

”Uncle, does hiring people cost money?”

”No, just provide meals.” After saying this, Yang Minggang paused, ”Meals aren’t needed either.”

”Uncle, how about giving some money to each person? That way we won’t owe favors, and they’ll feel good too.”

Hu Chunhua thought it over and agreed that giving money was the best option.

”Fair enough. You can give each person fifty cents a day. Actually, with others, not giving money would be okay since everyone can trade work. But since you’re alone and still young, people will come to work, but favors are hard to repay. So, it’s better to pay them.”

Yang Minggang considered hiring five people in addition to himself. They could finish the job in half a day, and this girl would only spend two and a half yuan, leaving out his portion.

It worked out quite well. In the past, if she didn’t have money, even two cents would be unaffordable. But now, this problem was no longer a worry.

”That works.” Most people fear owing favors, which can sometimes be priceless.

”Let’s start by sorting out the sheep pen first.

Yuanyuan, what do you want it to be like? Where do you want it?”

”Aunt, I have no idea?”

Yang Minggang pointed at the wall corner, ”Let’s do it there. Dig a ditch, enclose it with branches. That’s it.”

Su Yuanyuan had no objections, actually thinking that if a lamb were born, they’d have to bring the mother and baby inside to keep warm. This pen was meant for next year anyway.

Two strong workers made quick progress, while Su Yuanyuan was responsible for fetching branches. Clearly, she would have to go to the mountains.

”Uncle, don’t we need to build a house for the sheep?”

”Later I’ll go home to get some earthen bricks.”

Yang Minggang went back, while Su Yuanyuan and Hu Chunhua went outside to dig earth. They cut dry grass with scissors and mixed it with water to make mud.

”Aunt, will the roof also use this kind of mud tomorrow?”

”Yes, it will be the same.”

Su Yuanyuan thought about sneaking home at night to fetch soil, to show everyone she was making an effort.

The sheep pen took them four baskets of soil, but the roof would require much more. Even if she didn’t bring it all in, at least some was needed, right?

Yang Minggang pushed a cartload in. It was only about a meter high, just enough for the sheep to stand. It was about seven or eight hundred in width, but fairly long, roughly two meters.

They placed some thick sticks on top, overlaid with branches, and covered the sides and branches with mud mixed with grass.

Su Yuanyuan looked, actually wanting to ask why there was no door. But she decided to figure it out on her own, realizing it was a silly question.

”Alright, pile some dry grass and drive the sheep in.”

Su Yuanyuan led the sheep into the pen, patting its head, ”Are you happy? This is your new home. You see, you’re treated better than I am. You even have a new house.”

Hu Chunhua watched the little girl’s actions with a touch of sadness. At not even nine years old, she might have bought the sheep under the pretense, but she was really looking for a companion, wasn’t she?

Thanking the couple, she happily closed the door.

Seeing the earthen bricks reminded her that next year she could prepare too, surrounding the yard for more safety.

She got the sheep’s food ready before starting to make a fire.

The afternoon was exhausting, but it was work done for herself.

After washing up, she ate a bowl of sweet porridge and two cakes. Then, taking a shovel and a basket, she headed outside.

It wasn’t completely dark yet, and she wanted to show others she was working hard.

If she couldn’t carry a whole basket, she’d take half; it was all about showing effort.

Trip after trip she carried the soil back. By dark, it felt like 7 p.m. She took another empty basket, filled it up, and stored it in the space; though it was slow work. Thinking it over, she wasn’t in a hurry to go back. She dug a big pile of mud, waved her hand, and was surprised when it was actually stored away.

Su Yuanyuan walked back joyously, thinking how this space was indeed a necessity for anyone traveling or staying home.

On her second trip back, there were already three large piles in the courtyard.

That should do it, giving the impression she’d been up working all night.

She returned home, entered the space to bathe, ate a meat bun, and then lay under the quilt to sleep.

The next morning she got up early, fed the sheep and herself, and once more headed out to fetch soil. Actually, Su Yuanyuan thought that if she collected enough mud, she could plaster a layer over the exterior of the earth-brick house. That should make it sturdier and better insulated.

When Hu Chunhua and the others arrived, they saw the little girl struggling to carry back yellow earth.

The yard was already full, with more than enough.

”Yuanyuan, haven’t you slept all night? We have a cart; it’s much faster than carrying it.”

Su Yuanyuan smiled, ”Aunt, I’m free anyway, so I thought I’d work too. Besides, I saw the sheep pen’s earthen bricks were plastered with yellow mud, and thought the house might be warmer if we did the same?”

A few more people arrived gradually and their impression of the little girl improved a lot.

Hu Chunhua went home to fetch the wheat straw, and Yang Minggang brought over a blade for cutting, so they wouldn’t have to use scissors little by little.