While Wang An was tamping the foundation, Second Uncle Wang Dazhu and Wang Li finally returned, each driving a walk-behind tractor.
Naturally, the trailers of the two tractors were loaded to the brim with stones.
As for the people who had taken the vehicles to blast the stones this morning, not a single one had returned; they were still at the stone mountain, continuing to build fires and pour water to blast more rock.
Seeing the two vehicles return, the group led by Eldest Uncle Wang Daliang began unloading the stones one after another. It was only at this moment that Wang An deeply felt the backwardness of the productivity of this era.
Whether it was the trailer of the walk-behind tractor, the four-wheel vehicle, or the carts used by the older women, none of them had a tipping function.
Consequently, not only was loading entirely dependent on manual labor, but unloading was exactly the same.
If there had been a tipping function, a single "crash" would have unloaded an entire load of stones—how wonderful that would have been.
Fortunately, aside from Wang An, no one else present felt anything; they worked with fervent energy.
And so, amidst the bustle of the crowd, the entire morning passed quickly.
Lunch was the same as breakfast: "two-mix" steamed buns made from a small amount of white flour mixed with a large amount of cornmeal. However, the quantity had increased; they had steamed over 400 large buns, each weighing half a jin.
It must be said that although the old men helping with the labor had been genuinely busy all morning, the dozen or so women hadn't been idle for a second either.
This was clearly evident from the 400-plus buns and the two large iron pots outside that had not stopped simmering.
As for the widow Li, Liu Guilan had not asked her to do any heavy lifting. Like the other women, she spent her time kneading dough, cutting vegetables, or tending the fires.
Regarding the widow Li's two children, the eldest was already fourteen or fifteen and had done a fair amount of work within his capability, barely managing not to be a free-loader.
Of course, these things didn't matter to Liu Guilan. Since they had come, if they were sensible, they would work; if not, so be it. Regardless, she couldn't let them go hungry.
During lunch, the helpers inevitably broke into another round of praise.
There had been meat in the morning dishes, and there was meat in the lunch dishes. Furthermore, each person was given five buns, totaling over two and a half jin.
It could be said that the meals at Wang An's house were truly no worse than their New Year's feasts.
Most importantly, the meat in the dishes consisted of actual large slices—the kind that sizzled with oil in every bite. It was truly delicious and satisfying.
It wasn't like most households, where normally there was no meat in the dishes; even if there was, the meat was minced like dumpling filling and mixed in. It looked like a lot, but in reality, you couldn't even pinch a chicken feather with your chopsticks.
Of course, this was normal, and no one would ever complain. Every family was poor, and every family lacked grain; having something to eat was good enough. Who had the luxury of being picky?
After lunch, everyone stood up to head home.
Normally, laborers went home at noon to "rest during the heat," though "resting" was a broad term; accurately speaking, it was just a chance to check in at home.
Taking this opportunity, everyone would take their large bowls or small basins home.
As for what was in the bowls or basins, and what was bulging in their carry-bags, it was something everyone understood tacitly.
Those who were very family-oriented—the vast majority—had both meat and tofu in their bowls, with the common dried cabbage mostly gone, and their bags likely contained three buns broken in half.
Those whose family conditions were decent had only meat in their bowls, with no vegetables or tofu; as for buns, they might take one or two.
As for those who only cared for themselves, they went home empty-handed, not even taking a bowl; they might have a bun in their pocket, or perhaps nothing at all.
Going out to help others was partly to repay labor debts, but partly just to eat a few full meals. Yet, this wasn't truly "eating one's fill"; more accurately, it was eating until half-full.
For an adult of this era, regardless of gender, two and a half jin of buns could be easily eaten in one meal without feeling overly stuffed.
Yet, something that could clearly be finished in one sitting had to be saved to be shared with wives and children at home...
It must be said that this was a very tragic, heartbreaking, and helpless reality.
Watching the crowd head home with smiles on their faces, carrying their bowls and basins, Wang An felt a sudden, stifling sensation in his chest.
Because before his rebirth, his father, Wang Dazhu, had done the exact same thing!
Back then, whenever Wang Dazhu went to help others, he never returned empty-handed. At the least, he would bring back one bun; at most, two. Occasionally, inside a bun broken in half, one could find a few tiny bits of meat...
To be honest, Wang An had always wondered about this back then—why, if there was meat, were there only a few tiny bits?
Only now did Wang An realize where those bits of meat came from.
Subconsciously, Wang An looked toward his father, Wang Dazhu. Come to think of it, looking at him now, his father was actually quite handsome.
Noticing Wang An's gaze, Wang Dazhu thought Wang An wanted something. After waiting a while and seeing that Wang An didn't speak, Wang Dazhu gave him a fierce glare and said irritably
"What are you looking at?"
Wang An blinked and replied with a smiling provocation
"What if I am looking?"
It must be admitted that in the Northeast region, many tragedies had indeed occurred because of these two simple phrases: "What are you looking at?" and "What if I am looking?"
Upon hearing those words, Wang Dazhu froze for a moment, then suddenly launched himself forward like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, charging straight at Wang An.
Simultaneously, Wang Dazhu cursed through gritted teeth
"You little brat, daring to speak to your father like that! I think your skin has gotten too tight again!"
Despite Wang Dazhu's quick reaction, Wang An's long legs were quicker. Before Wang Dazhu could reach him, Wang An had vanished in a flash.
At this moment, Aunt Xu Yongfeng suddenly said to Liu Guilan with a smile
"Xiao An is already this big, yet he's still playing around with his father, huh?"
Liu Guilan replied with a face full of happiness
"That's just how he is. He's playful with everyone, even with me. He's never serious for a single day."
Just as Liu Guilan finished speaking, Aunt Xu Yongfeng said with a sigh of emotion
"This child, Xiao An, is truly bringing honor to our Wang family now."
Hearing this, Liu Guilan's face immediately filled with a proud smile, though she quickly added in a humble tone
"It's nothing much. He's married now, and the house is almost built; I don't have to worry about him anymore."
While the women chatted, Wang An didn't just run aimlessly; he had run back to the residential plot on the west side.
(End of Chapter)